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(September
11-18, 2001) The emergency situation in the United
States has had a dramatic impact on the Canada/USA border
and on North American airports. In an effort to keep our
clients abreast of events affecting the movement of goods
to/from Canada and the USA we are compiling a summary of
important events. Following is a list of events, beginning
with most recent, which will be updated as further details
become available.
18 September
2001
2:00 pm
CANADA CUSTOMS AND REVENUE AGENCY
BORDER WAIT
TIMES
In view of the acts of terrorism in the U.S. on September
11, 2001, customs officers are being more vigilant at all
ports of entry into Canada.
Customs land border situation as of
14:00 EDT, Tuesday, September 18, 2001.
| Office |
Commercial Flow |
Travellers Flow |
| |
Canada-bound |
U.S.-bound |
Canada-bound |
U.S.-bound |
| St-Stephen |
5 minutes |
3 hours |
5 minutes |
3 hours |
| Woodstock |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| St-Armand |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Lacolle |
10 minutes |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Fort Frances |
5 minutes |
5 minutes |
5 minutes |
5 minutes |
| Landsdowne |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Sault Ste Marie |
15 minutes |
15 minutes |
15 minutes |
15 minutes |
| Queenston Bridge |
45 minutes |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Rainbow Bridge |
N/A |
N/A |
10 minutes |
No delay |
| Whirlpool Bridge |
Closed |
Closed |
Closed |
Closed |
| Fort Erie - Peace Bridge |
90 minutes |
No delay |
30 minutes |
No delay |
| Windsor Ambassador Bridge |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Windsor Tunnel |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Sarnia - Blue Water Bridge |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Emerson |
10 minutes |
20 minutes |
5 minutes |
5 minutes |
| Coutts |
20 minutes |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| North Portal |
No delay |
30 minutes |
No delay |
No delay |
| Pacific Highway |
5 minutes |
2 hours |
5 minutes |
25 minutes |
| Douglas |
N/A |
N/A |
5 minutes |
15 minutes |
| Aldergrove |
15 minutes |
75 minutes |
15 minutes |
75 minutes |
| Huntingdon |
10 minutes |
20 minutes |
10 minutes |
20 minutes |
At all other locations, the traffic situation
is manageable.
14 September 2001
TRANSPORT CANADA
TRANSPORT MINISTER LIFTS FINAL PROHIBITIONS
ON CANADIAN
AIR TRAVEL - ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES REMAIN IN PLACE
OTTAWA - Transport Minister David Collenette
today announced that the restrictions imposed on cargo flights
earlier this week have been removed, effective immediately.
This marks the removal of the last of the flight restrictions
imposed in Canadian airspace on September 11, 2001.
"I must emphasize that the return
to normal flight operations in Canada continues to be a
gradual process," said Mr. Collenette. "This is
especially true for transborder flights into the United
States.
Canadian airports continue to operate
under heightened security. These security measures include
increased police presence at major airports, increased passenger
screening and enhanced security procedures, including more
hand searches of baggage.
These heightened security measures
will cause delays at major Canadian airports. The measures
will remain in force until further notice.
14 September 2001
8:43 am
UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS INC.
Air cargo operations will remain closed
today to allow priority to passenger flights. Air Canada
reports that a systemwide cargo embargo is in effect until
12:00 noon on Monday September 17, 2001.
14 September 2001
6:00 am
CANADA CUSTOMS AND REVENUE AGENCY
Customs land border situation as of
06:00 EDT, Friday, September 14, 2001:
| Office |
Commercial Flow |
Travellers Flow |
| |
Canada-bound |
U.S.-bound |
Canada-bound |
U.S.-bound |
| St-Stephen |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Woodstock |
No delay |
0-5 minutes |
No delay |
No delay |
| Lacolle |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Landsdowne |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Sault Ste Marie |
No delay |
One hour delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Queenston |
30-40 min. |
5 hour delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Rainbow Bridge |
N/A |
N/A |
No delay |
No delay |
| Whirlpool Bridge |
Closed |
Closed |
Closed |
Closed |
| Fort Erie |
No delay |
10-12 hour delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Windsor Ambassador Bridge |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Windsor Tunnel |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Sarnia |
No delay |
9-12 hour delay |
No delay |
1 hour delay |
| Emerson |
15 minutes |
No delay |
5 minutes |
No delay |
| Coutts |
15 minutes |
No delay |
15 minutes |
No delay |
| North Portal |
No delay |
Not reported |
5 minutes |
Not reported |
| Pacific Highway |
10 minutes |
No delay |
No delay |
No delay |
| Douglas |
N/A |
N/A |
20 minutes |
20 minutes |
At all other locations the traffic situation
is manageable.
13 September 2001
6:30 pm
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA)
After Tuesday's devastating events, the
FAA is using a phased approach to assure the highest levels
of safety. As of 4:30 p.m., about 250 commercial air carrier
aircraft were aloft in U.S. skies.
The FAA reopened airspace to commercial
airline and cargo operators today at 11:00 a.m.. Before
scheduled airline flights could operate, U.S. airports were
required to implement stepped-up security measures. By early
Thursday afternoon, more than 200 U.S. airports had reopened
after meeting the added measures, which include banning
off-airport and curbside check-in of luggage and restricting
access beyond the screening area.
For specific airline schedule information,
air travelers should contact their individual airline.
Foreign carriers whose flights were diverted
on September 11 were allowed to complete those flights.
Foreign carriers will be allowed to depart the U.S. if they
meet the FAA's new high security standards.
As the FAA works to restore our nation's
freedom of mobility, the people of the FAA are keeping the
victims and families in their thoughts. Thank you for your
understanding and patience during this recovery period.
13 September 2001
2:00 pm
CANADA CUSTOMS AND REVENUE AGENCY
REVISED BORDER WAIT TIMES
Customs land border situation as of 14:00
EDT, Thursday, September 13, 2001:
| Office |
Commercial Flow |
Travellers Flow |
| |
Canada-bound |
U.S.-bound |
Canada-bound |
U.S.-bound |
| Fort Erie |
Normal |
About 500 trucks in the
Fort Erie Racetrack parking lot. Every 45 minutes, 20
trucks are released. |
Normal |
Normal |
| Landsdowne |
1-hour delay |
Extremely long line-up
— 12 km. Wait time is 10 to 12 hours. |
Normal |
Normal |
| Queenston |
N.Y. state troopers are
redirecting all truck traffic into a compound located
1 ½ km from the bridge. There are 400 trucks
in the compound. Once released, there is a 2 ½-hour
wait to cross the border. |
Back-up is 2 km. OPP
are redirecting trucks to a compound at a gravel pit.
There are 300 trucks in the compound. |
Normal |
Normal |
| Sarnia |
Normal |
Extremely heavy. Line-up
is 10 to 20 km. |
Normal |
Extremely heavy. Line-up
is 10 to 20 km. |
| Windsor Ambassador Bridge |
Very light |
Extremely heavy. OPP
are redirecting car traffic off the 401 to the bridge
and tunnel via alternate routes. Back-up is so extreme
it is impossible to estimate wait times. |
Lighter than normal |
Lighter than normal |
| Windsor Tunnel |
4-hour delay |
4-hour delay |
4-hour delay |
4-hour delay |
| Lacolle |
Very light |
Very light |
Very light |
Very light |
| St-Stephen |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
| Woodstock |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
| Emerson |
No waiting |
No line-ups |
No waiting |
No line-ups |
| Coutts |
No waiting |
No line-ups |
No waiting |
No line-ups |
| Pacific Highway |
Very little traffic.
No waits. |
Due to volume, wait is
4 hours. U.S. customs doing 100% checks and vehicle
examination. |
Hardly any traffic. No
waits. |
As of 1:00 PST, the non-commercial
lanes are closed by U.S. customs. Travellers have to
use the commercial lanes to cross the border. |
| Douglas |
N/A |
N/A |
No waits |
No waits |
At all other locations
the traffic situation is manageable.
13 September 2001
1:00 pm
PEARSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The Greater Toronto Airport Authority
advises that airlines operating from Toronto Pearson International
Airport continue to operate at limited capacity as they
progressively increase their level of operations. As of
12:30 p.m. on September 13, 2001, Pearson Airport has processed
14 domestic arrivals, 17 domestic departures and 2 transborder
departures. This compares to our daily average of over 1200
arriving and departing flights.
13 September
2001
11:00 am
TRANSPORT CANADA
TRANSPORT MINISTER LIFTS REMAINING
PROHIBITIONS ON
CANADIAN PASSENGER AIR TRAVEL
OTTAWA — Transport Minister David
Collenette announced that he has removed the remaining restrictions
placed on passenger air travel in Canada on Tuesday following
the attacks in the United States. These include international,
transborder, private flights, effective today at 11:00 (EST).
Restrictions on cargo remain in effect at this time.
13 September 2001
7:42 am
UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS INC.
LAND CROSSING
Hundreds of trucks are backlogged on both
sides of the border in southern Ontario. Estimated waiting
time is 18 hours at Queenston/Lewiston (Niagara Falls),
12 hours at the Peace Bridge (Fort Erie/Buffalo), bomb threats
were received at both bridges last night and traffic was
halted until a search was completed, and 15 hours at Windsor/Detroit.
In an effort to keep the highways clear, trucks are being
held everywhere from Customs compounds to general parking
lots and farmer’s fields.
AIR TRAFFIC
Canadian domestic flights are beginning
to resume, however, commercial/international traffic is
still halted.
13 September 2001
6:00 am
CANADA CUSTOMS AND REVENUE AGENCY
BORDER WAIT TIMES
In view of the acts of terrorism in the
U.S. on September 11, 2001, customs officers exercise increased
vigilance at all ports of entry into Canada.
General traffic flows at the following ports as observed
by Customs office at 06:00 AM, Thursday, September 13, 2001,
are as follows:
| Office |
Commercial Flow |
Travellers Flow |
| |
North |
South |
North |
South |
| Fort Erie |
Normal |
Approx 500 trucks in
the Fort Erie Racetrack parking lot. 20 trucks are being
released at a time every 45 minutes |
Normal |
Normal |
| Landsdowne |
Normal |
6 km back up to 401 due
to US Customs Inspection |
Normal |
6 km back up to 401 due
to US Customs Inspection |
| Queenston |
NY State Troopers are
currently redirecting all truck traffic into a compound
located 1 ½ km from the bridge. There are currently
400 trucks in the compound. Once released, there is
a 2 ½ hour wait to cross the border |
2 km back up. OPP are
redirecting trucks to a compound located at a gravel
pit. There are 200 trucks in the compound |
Normal |
Normal |
| Sarnia |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
| Windsor Ambassador Bridge |
Very light |
Extremely heavy. OPP
are redirecting car traffic off 401 to bridge and tunnel
via alternate routes. Back up is so extreme, it is impossible
to estimate wait times |
Lighter than normal |
Lighter than normal |
| Windsor Tunnel |
Very light |
Very light |
Very light |
Very light |
| Lacolle |
Very calm |
Very calm |
Very calm |
Very calm |
| St-Stephen |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
| Woodstock |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
Normal |
| Emerson |
No waiting |
No line ups |
No waiting |
No line ups |
| Coutts |
No waiting |
No line ups |
No waiting |
No line ups |
| Pacific Highway |
Very little traffic No
waits at all |
4 hour wait due to volume,
100% checks and vehicle examination by US Customs |
Hardly any traffic. No
waits at all |
As of 1:00 PST, the non-commercial
lanes are closed by US Customs. Travellers have to use
the commercial lanes crossing the border |
| Douglas |
N/A |
N/A |
No waits at all |
No waits at all |
12 September
2001
CANADIAN SOCIETY OF CUSTOMS BROKERS
US CRISIS UPDATE
The following message is from Assia Hussain,
Chief of Release Processing at CCRA in the Greater Toronto
Area.
- CCRA in the
Toronto region are encouraging southern Ontario border
points to move freight in bond if required to alleviate
the congestion at the border
- In an effort
to assist with the movement of freight, additional staff
have been called in to perform the necessary increase
in examinations and releases in the GTA region
- CCRA is encouraging
the use of smaller, less congested inland ports, such
as Barrie and Oshawa
- CCRA has extended
the hours at Dixie Road to accommodate an increase in
the number of shipments expected to arrive in bond
- CCRA encourages
all brokers to make full use of EDI as CCRA staff in other
areas can pick up and process release transactions from
remote queues and thus provide better release delivery
times
- CCRA encourages
all brokers to make full use of PARS as well
- Should failed
PARS travel inland, CCRA is committed to working with
brokers to minimize the steps required to process inland
2-port PARS
CCRA has still not yet received any confirmed
ETA as to the reopening of operations at Pearson Airport
12 September 2001
4:45 pm
CANADIAN SOCIETY OF CUSTOMS BROKERS
PEACE BRIDGE
CLOSED DUE TO BOMB ALERT
At 4:45 pm the CSCB learned that the Peace
Bridge in Fort Erie has been closed for an undetermined
period due to a bomb alert. The US Customs Service and Peace
Bridge Authority jointly decided to close the bridge. We
will inform members when we receive further information
about this situation.
12 September
2001
3:40 pm
UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS INC.
CANADA - USA BORDER CROSSINGS
Border points across southern Ontario
are reporting delays anywhere from 6 - 12 hours to cross
the border into Canada due to a backlog of trucks. Delays
to cross the border into the USA have been reported to be
from 3 - 8 hours depending upon the location.
12 September 2001
12:38 pm
PEARSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (Toronto)
TORONTO - PEARSON AIRPORT UPDATE
Toronto-Pearson International Airport
remains closed with no arriving or departing flights until
further notice. The Government of Canada has indicated that
Canadian airspace remains restricted to all but humanitarian,
military, police or government aircraft.
12 September 2001
9:31 am
UNIVERSAL LOGISTICS INC.
We have been advised that the Canada -
U.S. border is open, however, due to congestion and heightened
security checks of all passengers and freight, long delays
are anticipated.
12 September 2001
8:51 am
LESTER B. PEARSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (Toronto)
NO FLIGHTS AT PEARSON AIRPORT
Please be advised. No flight arrivals
or departures are scheduled at Pearson Airport at this time.
Transport Canada will advise NAV CANADA as to the status
of airport closures. This message will be updated as new
information becomes available
12 September 2001
CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY
MESSAGE FROM CFIA VICE PRESIDENT RE
DISRUPTION AT BORDERS
The following message is from the
Vice President, Operations, of the CFIA, Mr. Larry Hillier.
[Yesterday's] tragic events in the United
States have created border disruptions and an increase in
international air traffic at Canadian airports. The disruptions
are expected to affect the movement of food, animal and
plant products to and from the U.S. and within Canada. I
would like
to provide you with a brief update on how the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responding to the situation.
The CFIA has offered assistance to the
Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) to deal with
increased volume, and has enhanced staffing in order to
provide regular CFIA inspection services to flights diverted
to Canadian airports.
The CFIA is in ongoing contact with other
government departments as part of the Government of Canada's
response to the situation.
We recognize that there are significant
border delays and that there may be other situations arising
from the events in the US that will have an impact on producers,
processors,
distributors, import/exporters, etc. We request your patience
and co-operation as we continue to respond to the situation.
The CFIA will attempt to exercise flexibility,
on a case by case basis, in response to special needs or
circumstances that may arise because of these recent events.
Requests for these arrangements or for any required accommodation
should be made to the CFIA's Regional Directors.
The CFIA will keep industry advised as
to operational decisions and actions made in response to
this situation. Please check the CFIA web site for further
information at www.inspection.gc.ca.
11 September 2001
CANADA CUSTOMS AND REVENUE AGENCY
EXTRA VIGILANCE
AT THE CANADIAN BORDER
The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency
wishes to inform Canadians that borders into Canada are
open. Customs officers are exercising extra vigilance and
will be checking all passengers at all border points. This
could result in delays for travellers.
This extra vigilance means:
Increased identification checks using
technology Increased examination of persons and goods entering
the country.
11 September 2001
3:50 pm
WHITE HOUSE
FEDERAL AVIATION
ASSOCIATION TO GROUND US FLIGHTS
The Secretary of State has requested the FAA to ground all
US flights until at least 12:00 noon EST tomorrow.
11 September 2001
3:38 pm
CANADIAN SOCIETY OF CUSTOMS BROKERS
CANADIAN BORDERS
OPEN
The CSCB has learned that border crossings into Canada remain
open, although there may be delays resulting from heightened
security levels due to today's emergency in the US. The
status of the US border is not clear at this point.
11 September 2001
11:57 am
CANADIAN SOCIETY OF CUSTOMS BROKERS
ALL CANADIAN
AIRPORTS CLOSED
The CSCB has just learned that all Canadian airports have
been closed due to the emergency situation in New York and
Washington. Transport Canada does not have a target time
for
re-opening airport operations. We will keep members informed
of the situation as we learn more.
11 September 2001
11:03 am
CANADIAN SOCIETY OF CUSTOMS BROKERS
WORLD TRADE
CENTER AND PENTAGON ATTACKS
We have had inquiries from members about the impact on the
Canada-U.S. border of the terrible events unfolding in New
York and Washington. We have contacted the office of
Assistant Commissioner Denis Lefebvre and will advise members
again as soon as we have news.
Unofficially, we understand that the Canada-US
border has been closed on the US side to traffic, and that
all American airports have been closed and all international
flights destined for the US are being diverted to Canada.
Brian Rowe
General Manager - Customs & Consulting
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