February 10, 2011

During Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent visit to Washington to meet with US President Barack Obama the two leaders announced a ‘Declaration on a Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness.’ The Declaration establishes a new long-term partnership to enhance our common security, while improving our economic competitiveness, job creation and prosperity for both Canada and the United States.

In the current global economy it is essential that the flow of goods and people between our two countries continue without long delays at border crossings, some $1.6 billion worth of goods crosses between our borders each and every day.

In order to ensure goods, people and investment can easily flow between our two countries; we must work together closely and cooperatively on security.

• The Declaration on a Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness will focus on four areas of cooperation:
• addressing threats early
• trade facilitation, economic growth and jobs
• integrated cross-border law enforcement
• critical infrastructure

The Declaration will strengthen, modernize and enhance the strong partnership Canada enjoys with the United States. Our close working relationship is built on mutual recognition of our separate constitutional and legal frameworks that protect privacy, civil liberties and human rights, and the sovereign right of each country to act independently in its own interest and in accordance.

The Prime Minister and President will establish a Beyond the Border Working Group (BBWG) to implement the Declaration and provide annual reports. The Leaders also announced the creation of a Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) that will find ways to reduce and prevent regulatory barriers to cross-border trade, simpler rules for businesses and consumers, and ultimately more jobs.