Ontario Construction New staff writer
In a move to enhance cross-border travel, officials from the Government of Canada, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) have reaffirmed a plan to build a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility.
The project was awarded $30 million from the Canadian government.
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, the fifth-busiest Canadian airport serving the United States, is set to improve the travel experience for passengers by allowing U.S.-bound travelers to clear customs and immigration before departure. This will enable them to bypass CBP inspections upon arrival in the U.S., streamlining their journey to connecting flights or final destinations.
The site will enhance the airport’s economic contribution from $2.1 billion to an impressive $5.3 billion. It is also expected to create around 1,600 new jobs, boosting employment and strengthening trade and tourism between the two nations.
“The ability to clear U.S. Customs on home soil will greatly enhance the passenger experience and offer tremendous benefits to the City of Toronto and surrounding region,” said RJ Steenstra, President and CEO of Ports Toronto.”
The projected benefits of Preclearance at Billy Bishop Airport include:
- Economic Contribution: Expected to rise to $5.3 billion from $2.1 billion.
- Potential tax revenue increase from $150 million to $215 million annually.
- Travelers can clear customs before takeoff, enhancing the travel experience.
- The facility may open up to ten additional U.S. destinations.
For the past year, DHS and CBP, in coordination with Transport Canada and Public Safety Canada, have been monitoring plans for the preparation of future Preclearance facilities at Billy Bishop Airport. DHS feels confident in the steps being taken and is now incorporating Billy Bishop in staffing and resource allocation planning and decisions.
While the start of operations must depend on the completion of each project milestone, progress is moving in the right direction.
Preclearance will open up more routes to the United States from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, potentially growing the airport’s annual economic contribution to $5.3 billion, boosting employment on both sides of the border, and strengthening bilateral trade and tourism between the United States and Canada.
“The Government of Canada is committed to enhancing travel convenience and security for Canadians. That’s why we invested $30 million in June 2023 to build a new U.S. preclearance facility at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport,” said Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport. “This initiative will not only improve the passenger experience but also foster economic growth, boost tourism and enhance trade and security between our nations.”
