39th Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers

WHEREAS, the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America signed an agreement on land, rail, marine and air transport preclearance on March 16, 2015, and no specific preclearance project is formally targeted by this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the agreement provides a legal framework for the deployment of preclearance services and, in order to be implemented, must now be ratified by the Canadian and American lawmakers; and

WHEREAS, once the Agreement comes into effect, the Canadian and U.S. federal authorities will be able to consider the deployment of preclearance operations at new land, rail and marine transport sites, and each of these new preclearance operations will require the advance authorization of the Canadian and U.S. governments; and

WHEREAS, customs preclearance and clearance at Central Station in Montreal would be beneficial for all of New England and Eastern Canada, as it would enhance multi-modal transport connectivity between states and provinces, and encourage economic development, including the development of tourism such as the cruise-ship tourism; and

WHEREAS, the Canada Border Services Agency has informed Amtrak that the current building in Lacolle (Quebec) used for customs clearance for passengers on the Montreal-New York train (the Adirondack) no longer meets the requirements of the Customs Act and must therefore be upgraded at the operator’s cost; and

WHEREAS, the Canada Border Services Agency has agreed to defer this obligation of Amtrak while awaiting the results of discussions on the creation of customs services at Central Station in Montreal.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the governors and premiers unanimously invite the Canadian and U.S. federal authorities to ratify as soon as possible the preclearance agreement signed on March 16, 2015; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the governors and premiers reiterate their unanimous call for the Canadian and U.S. federal authorities to enhance rail infrastructure throughout the region in order to ensure continued rail passenger service; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the governors and premiers call on the Canadian and U.S. federal authorities to make U.S. and Canadian customs preclearance and clearance at Central Station in Montreal a priority among the eventual projects submitted, in order to ensure continued service by the Adirondack train (Montreal-New York) and the return to Montreal of the Vermonter train (Montreal-Washington, D.C., serving Massachusetts and Connecticut cities along with New York).

Adopted at the 39th Annual Conference of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, on August 31, 2015.