FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2017
OTTAWA – Canada’s airports congratulates the Government of Canada for the successful passage of Bill C-23 (Preclearance Act), which received Royal Assent today.
“U.S. preclearance provides Canadian airports distinct advantages in attracting air service and offering enhanced connectivity in a globally competitive marketplace,” said Daniel-Robert Gooch, president of the CAC. “Canada’s airports look forward to working with the Government of Canada on implementation of Bill C-23.”
Preclearance is currently offered at Canada’s eight highest-volume airports. It allows travellers direct access to destinations in the U.S without customs facilities, promoting the cross‐border flow of people and goods. Each U.S. Customs Border Protection officer stationed in Canada clears on average 30,000 passengers/year.
“Transborder traffic to the U.S. is on the rise at many of Canada’s major airports, with traffic up 2.7 cent last year, and five per cent so far this year,” said Gooch. “Bill C-23 provides airports with the option to have more U.S. Customs Border Protection personnel on a cost recovery basis, which will provide preclearance airports greater flexibility to work with CBP in matching resources to demand. It also allows for the expansion of preclearance to other airports in Canada.”
About the Canadian Airports Council
The Canadian Airports Council (CAC), a division of Airports Council International-North America, is the voice for Canada’s airports community and the Canadian unit of Airports Council International-North America. Its 51 members represent more than 100 airports, including all privately-operated National Airports System (NAS) airports and most significant municipal airports. Together, CAC members handle virtually all of the nation’s air cargo and international passenger traffic and 95 per cent of domestic passenger traffic.
