Government of British Columbia: News Release; PNWER Calls for Streamlined Trade, Travel Over Border

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Jul 22 (MARKET WIRE) --
NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

2008OTP0187-001133

July 22, 2008

Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat

PNWER Calls for Streamlined Trade, Travel Over Border

VANCOUVER - Getting the holders of enhanced driver's licences across the
border faster and allowing them to use their cards for North American
flights are among the key recommendations to streamline cross-border
travel and trade issued by the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region today,
announced John van Dongen, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor
General.

"The 2009 World Police and Fire Games and the 2010 Winter Olympic and
Paralympic Games are just two of the region's next major tourism
opportunities. But congestion and delay at the border could sour their
benefits if we don't act now to streamline and improve day-to-day travel
and trade in advance of these events," said van Dongen. "Expanding the
enhanced driver's licence program is one of several key recommendations
to make the border more efficient for trade and tourism and more
effective at keeping our countries safe."

More than 500 B.C. enhanced driver's licences (EDL) are now in use for
Canada-U.S. land and sea border crossings under the first phase of the
EDL program.

"Our government is committed to smart and secure borders," said the Hon.
Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, who will deliver a keynote
address at the PNWER summit. "That is why today I am encouraged by the
ongoing collaboration between the various partners involved in the
Pacific Northwest Economic Region and their efforts to streamline
cross-border travel and trade, under the new Border Charter. Canada is
working hard every day to ensure the secure and efficient flow of
legitimate people and goods."

The new PNWER Border Charter calls on the two federal governments to
ensure a convenient and welcoming border crossing experience for
travellers and the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, reduce
congestion and streamline flows of legitimate trade and travel, and
improve outreach and expansion of frequent border crossing programs.

"The border is the first experience travellers have of a country, and the
more we can do to make this experience positive for them, the more likely
we are as a region to encourage travel and see long-term benefits from
major events the Pacific northwest will host through 2010 and beyond,"
said Stephen Regan, president and CEO of the Council of Tourism
Associations (COTA).

Other major recommendations in the PNWER border charter include:

- ensure a secure, convenient and welcoming border crossing experience
for 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including an integrated and tested
plan for handling peak flow traffic at border crossings and a
pre-clearance program, designated special lanes and information for
Olympics border crossers;

- reduce congestion and streamline flows of legitimate trade and travel,
including increased staffing levels and traffic capacity, more use of
technology for pre-clearance and processing prior to physical arrival at
the border and improved signage directing traffic towards less congested
border crossings and lanes, and improved procedures for frequent business
travellers;

- increase outreach and expansion of frequent border crossing programs to
improve security by focusing resources on higher-risk traffic through
increased use of Nexus cards, designated flexible lanes, and improved
public communication on document requirements in partnership with the
tourism industry, border communities and regional organizations.

The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER), with its network of
private and government officials, is a best practice in organized
regional cross-border cooperation. PNWER has 17 different working groups
and members who include premiers, governors, legislators, private sector
leaders, industry associations, counties, and economic development
commissions.

The 18th PNWER annual summit in Vancouver, B.C. continues through July
24, 2008.

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the
Province's news feeds using RSS, visit the Province's website at
www.gov.bc.ca.

Contacts:
Jamie Edwardson
Communications Manager
Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
(250) 888-0021

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