The CSCB (The Canadian Society of Customs Brokers) attended a press conference in Windsor this morning, during which an initiative for  "mandatory line release" at  the Ambassador Bridge was announced. 

Effective April 1, 2007, all commercial importations entering Canada at the Ambassador Bridge will be required to use one of the following release options offered by CBSA - CSA/FAST, PARS, FIRST, A49, Post-audit and In-bond.

Only commercial importations that are not able to use these clearance options (such as those subject to requirements of other government departments) will be processed at the commercial offsite.  Vehicles with these shipments will travel to the offsite under new, strict monitoring procedures.

News Release

Joint initiative introduces new procedures to strengthen security and expedite trade at the Ambassador Bridge.

Windsor, Ontario, February 22, 2007 - Canada's New Government and the Ambassador Bridge have announced a joint initiative that will enhance security controls and expedite the processing of commercial trucks entering Canada at the Ambassador Bridge.

Starting April 1, 2007, all commercial importations entering Canada at the Ambassador Bridge will be required to use one of the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) existing line release clearance options, including CSA/FAST, PARS, FIRST, A49, Post-Audit and In-Bond.

The initiative also builds on the existing CBSA security measures to ensure an appropriate level of border security and improved control of vehicles reporting to the CBSA commercial offsite facility.  The number of vehicles required to report there will be significantly reduced, allowing for enhanced monitoring and convoying of vehicles that are referred to the offsite facility.

" The Security and Service Enhancement Initiative demonstrates that our new government is taking action to strengthen border security and facilitate the smooth flow of legitimate trade and travel at the Ambassador Bridge", said Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day.  "This initiative will help reduce congestion and back-ups, expedite commercial processing, as well as allow the Canada Border Services Agency to concentrate more of its efforts and resources on enhancing border security."

In coordination with ongoing outreach activities to ensure all affected parties are aware and able to comply with the regulations, the Ambassador Bridge has established an Advanced Border Processing Center in Detroit, Michigan.  The CBSA will provide a resource person at the Center to provide additional assistance and guidance to carriers and Importers during the initial phase of implementation.

"We are committed to increasing the service at the Ambassador Bridge", said Dan Stamper, President of the Ambassador Bridge.  "Over 90% of the trucks entering Windsor today already clear their goods through one of these preferred clearance options.  We fully support this initiative and are taking the necessary steps to ensure that the new procedures are implemented without difficulty.  One such measure is the establishment of a new Advanced Border Processing Center in Detroit, Michigan which is available to assist all carriers and importers to prepare for and comply with the new requirements."

Only commercial importations that are not able to use line release clearance options will be exceptions and will continue to be processed at the offsite facility.  This small percentage of commercial importations will be strictly monitored between the bridge and offsite.

Last year over 1.8 million commercial trucks entered Canada at the Ambassador Bridge, making it the busiest border crossing in Canada.

The following press release was issued by CBSA this morning.