A meeting here Friday between local municipal leaders, tourism operators, and government reps sparked some frank discussion—and will lead to improved tourism in the region, said Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff.
“It was very positive,” Boshcoff said afterwards. “In terms of viewing the border as an opportunity, I believe any of the perceived obstacles can be overcome.”
Fort Frances Coun. Tannis Drysdale, a former president of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce (NOACC), agreed the meeting was worthwhile.
“It was a very positive and productive meeting,” she said Monday.
“The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways that we could improve the experience for U.S. travellers as they enter into Canada,” she noted.
Representatives from the Rainy River District Municipal Association, the North Western Ontario Tourism Association, the Northern Ontario Municipal Association, and the Canada Border Services Agency all discussed the issue.
The establishment of the CBSA is good news, Coun. Drysdale remarked. “That alone will be a huge improvement, I believe,” she said.
Before the CBSA was created in December, 2003, there were two agencies travellers would deal with at the border: Canada Customs and Immigration.
“Because there were two agencies, sometimes travellers had to wait,” Coun. Drysdale noted, adding that having one agency run Canada’s border crossings should reduce wait times.
The issue of communication between the CBSA and tourists and tourism operators was an important one at Friday’s meeting. “The real goal has to be to improve communication in many different ways,” Boshcoff said.
Coun. Drysdale noted since 9/11, border screening procedures have been more strict, and in some cases have many travellers wary about crossing the border.
“A lot of times, our problems are related to uncertainty. Uncertainty creates apprehension,” she said. “The way to alleviate apprehension is through communication.”
To this end, the CBSA has agreed to attend tourist trade shows, as far as its budget will allow, to answer people’s questions about crossing the border into Canada.
“Border Services have a very important job in our community,” Coun. Drysdale noted, adding it generally was agreed at the meeting that it’s necessary to screen people at the border to keep out potential criminals.
“We’d like to make that experience as positive as possible,” she stressed.
Boshcoff said he had been warned prior to the meeting that he would be walking into “a hornet’s nest.” But on the contrary, he said the meeting was “very upbeat and positive.”
“I found people were looking to find solutions. I believe we’re well on the way,” Boshcoff remarked. “I believe it is the start of a new era.”
Last Tuesday (Feb. 8), Boshcoff attended a meeting with Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, to discuss Canada-U.S. border issues.
The meeting included other MPs from across the country who represent border communities.
Fort Frances Times
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