A program that allows Canadian travellers to speed through security and U.S. customs could be back to full strength by spring.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden met yesterday in Mexico City. Following the meeting, it was announced that the Nexus travel program is slowly returning to “normal” operation.
Officials said the agreement between the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office (CBP) and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) will allow Nexus offices to re-open in select Canadian airports. Nexus offices in other locations have been open for the past year or so, but a dispute between U.S. and Canadian officials has kept Canadian airport offices closed.
Canadian and U.S. officials said the agreement will allow the CBSA to conduct security interviews at enrolment centres in Canada, and separate U.S. CBP interviews in Canadian airports with preclearance operations. According to the Toronto Star, that includes Toronto Pearson, Montreal Trudeau, and international airports in Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, Edmonton and Halifax.
Scotty Greenwood, CEO of the Canadian American Business Council, said that the breakthroug “will allow the resumption and enhancement of one of the most successful trusted-traveller programs in the world.”
