The Canada-U.S. border deal will help make Halifax a more attractive entry point into North America, says the chairwoman of the Halifax Gateway Council.
Joyce Carter said Halifax Stanfield International Airport and the Port of Halifax will be able to attract more business if they’re part of the single-entry system proposed in the Beyond the Border agreement announced last week.
She said the delays created when passengers or cargo have to be screened twice, under two different sets of rules, to get into the United States can be a turnoff for potential gateway customers.
“If we take that away, we truly can get people moved within North America quicker through our gateway than if you’re going in other places down the eastern seaboard,” Carter, who is also vice-president of finance for the Halifax International Airport Authority, said in an interview last week.
Local exporters and transportation providers had a chance to give input on the proposed agreement to Canadian and U.S. government officials during a roundtable in March, hosted by the council and the Atlantic chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada.
“It’s early days and we’re working our way through the details but we’re extremely pleased with what we see,” the council chairwoman said of the border deal. “It certainly will benefit all modes of travel.”
Besides the airport and port, the gateway council represents two super post-Panamax container terminals, CN Rail, and the highways, logistics and warehousing sectors.
Source: The Chronicle Herald