Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness

(Niagara At Large is posting this letter, dated December 7, to residents on both sides of our greater Niagara border from the U.S. ambassador to Canada, David Jacobson, on the historic signing of a new cross-border agreement between Canada and the United States for your information.)

I have just come from the Oval Office, where President Obama and Prime Minister Harper took our relationship to the next level as they announced the Action Plans for Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness.

The United States and Canada have long been the best of neighbors, friends, partners, and allies. Based on foundations of mutual reliance and respect we have built prosperity at home while standing shoulder-to-shoulder defending our shared values around the world. We have long understood that if we work together we are stronger, more prosperous, and more competitive.

 Building on that spirit, in February we set forth a plan for the future of North America. We committed to a shared vision for perimeter security and economic competitiveness. We agreed to work together within, at, and away from our borders to enhance our security, better coordinate our regulatory systems, and accelerate the legitimate flow of people, goods and services. We rejected the false choice between security and efficiency at the border. We realized that by improving the efficiency of the border in smart ways we would enhance the security of North America while lifting the standard of living of our people. We promised to consult with our citizens and to deliver a detailed Action Plan to realize our vision. Today we deliver on that promise.

 The details of the plan are available on our website. But I would like to share some of the highlights:

 We will work together to address threats at the earliest possible point by developing a common understanding of the threat environment; aligning and coordinating our security systems for goods, cargo and baggage; and supporting the effective identification of people who pose a threat.

 We will take steps to create more openness at the land border for legitimate travel and trade by enhancing the benefits of programs that help trusted businesses and travelers move efficiently across the border; by introducing new measures to facilitate movement and trade across the border while reducing the administrative burdens for business; and investing in improvement to our shared border infrastructure and technology.

 We will build on our successful models for preventing criminals from crossing the border to escape justice. We will enhance cooperation in investigating transnational criminal organizations and other threats to our national security. And we will take simple but effect steps like ensuring that our law enforcement authorities can effectively communicate with each other across the border.

 We will enhance and coordinate the critical infrastructure — bridges, roads, energy infrastructure and computer networks — that connect our people, ensuring that it remains resilient in the event of disasters and emergencies on either side of the border.

 We will seek to reduce regulatory differences and duplicative actions that hinder cross-border trade and investment and ultimately impose a cost on our citizens, businesses, and economies. This will create more efficient supply chains, increase trade and investment, generate new export opportunities, and create jobs on both sides of the border.

 We have developed these Action Plans with the clear recognition of the sovereign rights of both Canada and the United States to act independently in their own interests and in accordance with their own laws. We will respect the separate constitutional and legal frameworks that protect privacy, civil liberties, and human rights that are critical to citizens on both countries.

 Over the last nine months our governments have solicited comments from interested stakeholders on both sides of the border. We have taken those comments into account in developing the Action Plans. Now that we have announced the Plans we will continue to seek the views of concerned citizens. The United States and Canada have each commenced formal comment processes and have created websites for informal comment. We will also continue reaching out to interested parties. We realize our efforts will be most successful it we understand the views of our citizens. I encourage you to share your thoughts with me.

 In 1961, President Kennedy had the opportunity to address the Canadian Parliament. He famously said: “what unites us is far greater than what divides us.” With the actions we take today between our two great countries that statement was never more true.

(We invite you to share your views on this post below.)