Dale Cummings: Frequent Traveller

Screening Technologies Dept: Canada and the United States have apparently reached a tentative agreement on border co-operation that could be the beginning of a broader arrangement on continental defence. The initial pact avoids any of the concerns that had previously been raised about loss of sovereignty and instead focuses on the bread-and-butter issues of cross-border trade and travel, according to Winnipeg Free Press. There are no plans to harmonize immigration and refugee policies, which many critics feared would result in a loss of Canada's right to set its own policies and priorities for admitting newcomers and dALE CUMMINGS Among other things, the deal is said to include the creation of a one-stop window for importers to reduce paperwork and speed up the approval process. There will be more emphasis on frequent-traveller and trusted-shipper programs, while Canada will be expected to invest in new border-screening technologies already used in America. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.