ARTICLE
MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Victoria Tourism and Business to Benefit from Canada-US Preclearance Agreement March 17, 2015 – Victoria, BC – Greater Victoria tourism sector and business community will benefit from the recently announced Canada-US preclearance agreement. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber) applauds the federal government’s announcement of a comprehensive agreement between Canada and the United States to allow preclearance activities by land, rail, marine and air in both countries. This change will enable new preclearance operations in any of the four modes of transportation, facilitating trade and travel and creating economic benefits for Canadians. In Greater Victoria, cross-border service providers such as the Clipper (Victoria-Seattle) and the Black Ball Ferry Line (Victoria- Port Angeles) will benefit from this policy change as they would now be able to complete preclearance in Victoria, further improving customer service. “The preclearance agreement is of great importance to the Capital region,” said Bruce Carter, Chamber CEO. “It is important to maintain Belleville terminal location’s strategic importance with our US partners. The access is not only into Greater Victoria and BC but provides an international gateway into Canada.” “This preclearance announcement recognizes the truly integrated nature of our transportation system and by extension, our economies,” said John Winter, president and CEO of the BC Chamber. “Whether it is business people flying back and forth to finalize a deal that will grow their companies, or tourists catching a train or a bus to go visit our respective countries, this preclearance agreement will open up our borders to all the economic benefit that goes with these activities.” Winter added that the BC Chamber network has long supported the implementation of the Beyond the Border initiative. The Chamber is Accredited with Distinction from the Canadian Accreditation Council of Canada. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, with approximately 1,400 members, is the voice of business for the Greater Victoria region. -30- For more information contact: Janet Crocker Policy and Communications Manager Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Email: jcrocker@victoriachamber.ca Phone: (250) 360-3476 Bruce Carter CEO Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Email:: bcarter@victoriachamber.ca Phone: (250)360-3470
MEDIA RELEASE
March 17, 2015 – Victoria, BC – Greater Victoria tourism sector and business community will benefit from the recently announced Canada-US preclearance agreement. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber) applauds the federal government’s announcement of a comprehensive agreement between Canada and the United States to allow preclearance activities by land, rail, marine and air in both countries. This change will enable new preclearance operations in any of the four modes of transportation, facilitating trade and travel and creating economic benefits for Canadians. In Greater Victoria, cross-border service providers such as the Clipper (Victoria-Seattle) and the Black Ball Ferry Line (Victoria- Port Angeles) will benefit from this policy change as they would now be able to complete preclearance in Victoria, further improving customer service. “The preclearance agreement is of great importance to the Capital region,” said Bruce Carter, Chamber CEO. “It is important to maintain Belleville terminal location’s strategic importance with our US partners. The access is not only into Greater Victoria and BC but provides an international gateway into Canada.” “This preclearance announcement recognizes the truly integrated nature of our transportation system and by extension, our economies,” said John Winter, president and CEO of the BC Chamber. “Whether it is business people flying back and forth to finalize a deal that will grow their companies, or tourists catching a train or a bus to go visit our respective countries, this preclearance agreement will open up our borders to all the economic benefit that goes with these activities.” Winter added that the BC Chamber network has long supported the implementation of the Beyond the Border initiative. The Chamber is Accredited with Distinction from the Canadian Accreditation Council of Canada. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, with approximately 1,400 members, is the voice of business for the Greater Victoria region.
-30-