What The Star Did Not Dare Tell You

No I do not mean about the change in the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel operation with Alinda that I disclosed yesterday.

I am sure that you read the Star story: "Advanced truck clearance expected to reduce delays." It talks about what Canadian Customs is doing to get trucks across the border more quickly (and thereby reduce the need for a new crossing, but that's another BLOG). All of a sudden at the end, the Bridge Co.'s Skip McMahon was quoted.

That seemed so bizarre, so I went out and looked at the press release that was issued. It turns out it was a "joint initiative" between the Government and the Bridge Co. to solve a problem it appears. For its part, the Bridge Co. "has established an Advanced Border Processing Center in Detroit, Michigan" to help in the process.

What is even more interesting is "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." Sounds like the beginning of reverse customs to me, a baby step at a time!

Now I wonder why the Star did NOT tell its readers about the Bridge Co.'s role. Do you think the Star, who is the Title Sponsor of the Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards night, is trying to influence the vote? After all, the Bridge Co. has been nominated for an award for International Business.

Nawwwwwww, that's not the reason. You know the real reason as well as I. Who dares say anything positive about the Bridge Co. and their role in moving traffic in Windsor to help out our regional economy.

I guess it's better for some to continue to talk about non-existent truck back-ups at the Bridge to fulfill a political agenda than to talk about what is really being done to encourage economic development here.

Here's the full Press 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.