Bioterrorism Measure Unnecessary, Canada Says

An American security measure that would make air fares more expensive and threatens backups at the border is unnecessary and could be removed, Canadian Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl says.

Strahl, following a meeting with his American counterpart Mike Johanns, said Ottawa could satisfy Washington's fears about transborder bioterrorism without costing Canadian air travellers and adding another impediment to cross border traffic.

The fees, scheduled to be in place by Nov. 24, range from $5 (U.S.) per air passenger to $488 per maritime vessel. Truckers would have to pay $5.25 per border crossing.

Strahl told Johanns the fees are particularly difficult to absorb for Canadians because it comes on top of new security measures that will require passports or other secure documents to cross the land border by Jan. 1, 2008.

The U.S. fees would add $77 million to coffers to hire at least 220 more inspectors to screen incoming vehicles for agriculture pests or biohazards, Washington said.

Canadian travellers would expect more scrutiny from inspectors searching for illegal fruits, vegetables, birds or animals, but the new fee is mainly grounded in Washington's fears of bioterrorism.

Canadian airlines have raised concerns that a surcharge on airfares could further depress sagging traffic between the two countries and the trucking industry fears it could cause further border delays for time-sensitive deliveries.

Strahl said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency believes it already has the security measures in place to deal with American concerns.

He also said Johanns told him he knew nothing about the proposal until he read it in newspapers.

The two men expect to meet again before the November deadline.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.