FBC Newsletter - May 2024

What’s New at FBC?

FBC has had a busy spring!

In March, FBC hosted our first International Symposium on Preclearance for Travel and Trade in Toronto. Thank you to our speakers, sponsors, and attendees that made this event possible. It was great to be in the room with so many familiar faces and so many dedicated border specialists. The attendees were invited to a reception at the U.S. Consul General’s residence, followed by an all day Symposium with government and industry participants the following day. Read key takeaways below. View the event photos here.

In April, FBC’s Laura Dawson was named one of Canada’s Top 50 Foreign Policy influencers by the Hill Times. "...Dawson was called on by the government to give her two cents at the recent winter cabinet retreat. Her expertise is on the world’s longest undefended border that traverses the 49th parallel—a border that has been put under an increased spotlight by bombastic American lawmakers as their election approaches. One senior official called her perspective a 'thoughtful voice' that is listened to. Dawson previously led the Canada Institute at the D.C.-based Wilson Center and was a senior adviser in the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa." Read the full press release and article here.

Make sure to subscribe to our newsletters, stay connected on social media, and ensure that your membership is up to date, in order to keep up with other upcoming events and webinars.

Symposium Takeaways

On March 6-7, 2024, FBC brought together more than a 100 U.S. and Canada government and business leaders for a frank discussion on the the legacy and future of preclearance for travel and trade citing lessons learned from the U.S.-Canada experience and around the world. Here are some to the main takeaways.  A longer summary of proceedings will follow.

• Billy Bishop Toronto Island Airport's new air preclearance site will be a force multiplier for the regional economy and attracting leisure and business travelers.

• CBSA’s new land preclearance pilot between NY and QC offers an opportunity for collaboration between governments to ensure effective operational and policy processes for new preclearance sites.

• Canada's 5-year review of the Preclearance Act emphasizes the importance of stakeholder input to identify successes and areas for improvement. FBC will be point of connection between government and industry as the review progresses.

• Dialogue with U.S. and Canadian consuls general in Toronto and Detroit affirms that state and provincial partnerships are pivotal for bilateral cooperation and reviving integrated manufacturing supply chains for global competitiveness.

• Digital technologies are key to a secure and efficient movement of passengers and cargo. The summit underscored the significance of data sharing, interoperability, and compliance with policies to enhance traveler efficiency while addressing geopolitical security and migration concerns.

• Cargo preclearance is finally gaining the attention it deserves. Acknowledging the role of cross-border trade in the economy, the summit emphasized data-driven decisions to enhance security and efficiency in preclearance processes, particularly in the face of rising e-commerce challenges. There's a call for improved risk management tools and incentives for trade compliance.

A special thank you to our Symposium sponsors that made this event possible.

Spotlight Conversation: Colin Bird, Canadian Consul General (Detroit) and Baxter Hunt, U.S. Consul General (Toronto), moderated by Jennifer Quinn, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Nieuport Aviation

New Member Highlight

• FBC is pleased to welcome SITA, Vision-Box, General Dynamics and the Federal Bridge Corporation as new members. We look forward to working together to build better borders!

Media and Speaking Engagements

• Laura Dawson spoke at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce  North American Economic Security Mission in Washington DC, including panels at U.S. Chamber and Center for Strategic and International Studies (May 1-2)

• Briefing to Motor Coach Canada/Ontario Motor Coach Association (April 16)

• Briefings at Global Affairs Canada on Canada-US relations in an era of Geopolitical Disruption (April 11)

• Max Bell School of Public Policy, Case Study: Renegotiating the Safe Third Country Agreement (April 2-5)

• Canadian Global Affairs Institute PODCAST on Implications of U.S. Elections for Canada and VIDEO (April 1)

• Remarks to the Trilateral Aluminum Summit (March 20).

• Meeting with Minister François-Philippe Champagne during his U.S. Tour and visit to Atlanta, Georgia. (March 10)

• Interview with  BNN Bloomberg to react to U.S. President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. Watch VIDEO here. (March 8)

• Interview with Power & Politics. What Super Tuesday means for Canada. LISTEN here. (March 5)

• Supply Chains Competition Keynote Speaker at Brock University with the World Trade Center of Buffalo. (March 2)

• Briefing to Global Automakers Association (February 23)

• Geopolitics and National Security speaker for Canada School of Public Service (February 16)

FBC Coming Events

• FBC is working with sister organization PNWER to develop panel discussions and working groups on the use of digital identity tools for World Cup 2026 and beyond at PNWER’s Annual Summit in Whistler, July 21-25. FBC AGM will be held in Vancouver following the Whistler events.  Watch your inbox for further information.

• FBC’s 2024 Transportation Border Summit in Washington, DC is moving to November following the U.S. elections. We will let you know as soon as dates and sites are finalized.

FBC Community Bulletin Board

• The Office of the Premier of British Columbia is hiring for an Intergovernmental Relations Advisor. The position is based in Victoria or Vancouver, and will mainly support U.S. relations. Apply by May 9. Full posting can be found here.

• Deloitte is hosting a Transportation Summit in Vancouver on May 22 in the eve of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Transportation Forum. Register here. 

Help us build a better border

FBC is committed to building a better border for travel and trade. You can help through expert advice, membership, and financial support. Please take a moment to check that your membership is up to date. And, if you’re still thinking about it, please jump off the fence and make a commitment to our important work.  Contact laura.dawson@futureborderscoalition.org for more information.