[twoNeurons]

Came across this interesting letter:

Published on Wednesday, April 01, 2009

OPEN LETTER
April 1, 2009

Hon. Peter Van Loan
Minister of Public Safety
House of Commons, Ottawa
K1A 0A6

Hon. John Baird
Minister of Transport
House of Commons
Ottawa K1A0A6

Subject: Cost recovery for Amtrak and free screening for airlines

John J. Bakker, President Transport 2000 BC has long been attempting to bring some light on the problem of delay in approval of a second Amtrak from Seattle and beyond to Vancouver, B.C.
Transport 2000 Canada in Ottawa has received information through the Access to Information process indicating dilatory treatment (two years to respond) by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) of requests from Amtrak for arrangements to clear international passengers. When the CBSA responded it demanded $1,500 per train/day for work that on March 31 the border agency announced will be done for free for six airports!

Professor Bakker, Professor-Emeritus Department of Civil Engineering, University of Alberta, says: “The Canadian Government objects to the thickening of our border with the United States, and rightly so. What used to be the longest undefended border in the world is becoming a barrier to Free Trade and to the movement of people who want to cross for legitimate purposes. But do we practice what we preach?

The State of Washington and Amtrak are willing to finance the extension of the second Amtrak train from Bellingham to Vancouver. This proposal was enthusiastically endorsed by the British Columbia Government, B.C. Tourism and the Vancouver Olympics Committee. The BC Government contributed $3 million to provide for an additional siding north of White Rock and this job was completed in April 2008. All was set to link Vancouver with Seattle and Portland going south in the morning and coming back late in the evening.

Yet there is no second train.

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) wants $ 1,500 per day or $547,500 per year to serve this train. When the first train started operating in 1994 there was no charge. After all Canada did not have to subsidise this service. Apparently the offices of CBSA are only open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and there would be nobody around at 11:40 p.m. when the second train arrives. So CBSA calls this a new facility and wants to be reimbursed.

No where else is an additional plane or bus or car called a new facility, but a train appears to be a different matter. Needless to say Amtrak refuses to pay.

Washington State has studied the impact of the first train. American passengers coming to Canada spend money on hotels, meals and transportation, as well as on goods and services they buy. The second train is expected to generate US$18 million visitor expenditures, which means about U $765,000 revenue in GST for the Federal Government. So the Federal Government makes a profit even if we assume the dollar at par.

The trains on the West coast in the US continue to have increased ridership. Total Northwest Corridor ridership was 847,563 in 2008 up 15.4% over 2007. Seattle is well served by trains from all directions, which maybe one of the reasons cruise ships are moving their terminal from Vancouver to Seattle.

Amtrak, thanks to Vice-President Joe Biden, is getting $1.3 billion in improving infrastructure. Washington State hopes to get some of these funds to build a third track between Seattle and Portland so as to speed up the Cascades services.

So why is the Canadian Government being so obstinate in requiring extra fees? ... If it works for trains, why not for planes, buses and passenger cars?

As to how to solve the processing of passengers from the US late at night: The actual border crossing is very close to the Peach Arch. There is CSBA post there manned 24 hours, 7 days a week. Take a van with officers to Blaine, join the train, process passengers and get off again at White Rock.

Any inadmissible passengers can be promptly returned to the US. There are rumours that CSBA wants to have all passengers on all trains entering Canada get off and have passport and luggage inspection at the border. It was easier to cross the Iron Curtain during the Cold War.

What we need is real political leadership from you the responsible Ministers. The CBSA in its zeal to balance its own budget should be told that in an economic crisis, we should welcome tourists to visit Canada and not to make it an obstacle course. We need a kind of stimulus package for tourism, and this package could make a profit for Canada.

Yours very truly

Harry Gow
Founding President
Transport 2000 Canada

For more information

Harry Gow
<hwgow@sympatico.ca>

David Jeanes
<david@jeanes.ca>
President
Transport 2000 Canada
(613) 594-3290

John Bakker
President
Transport 2000 BC
<jaapbakker@telus.net>

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