CIMM Committee News Release

For Immediate Release

OTTAWA, October 25, 2001 -- Joe Fontana, MP (London North Centre), Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration today announced that the The House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration is reviewing border security issues and will report its findings and recommendations to Parliament.  Half of the Committee will be visiting facilities in Western and Central Canada (Vancouver Harbour and Airport – Emerson, Manitoba – Windsor/Detroit) and half of the Committee will travel to Eastern Canada (St. Stephen and Woodstock, New Brunswick – Dorval Airport – Lacolle and Stanstead, Quebec).

The Committee expects that the visits to Canadian ports of entry will provide important information in respect of the following issues, inter alia:

• Enforcement practices, including those to be implemented following passage of Bill C-11;

• Current and proposed coordination with American customs and immigration departments, including joint interdiction activities and intelligence sharing;

• Port of entry security technology;
• Port of entry staffing and personnel issues; and,
• Resources and funding levels

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