A union official for Canadian customs workers wants the government to build five huge clearance centers at the border to process trucks.

According to published reports, the plan envisions both Canadian and U.S. customs officials handling multiple trucks at a time at clearance areas near border points in Windsor, Ontario; St. Stephen, New Brunswick; Lacolle, Quebec; Coutts, Alberta; and Pacific Highway, British Columbia. The clearance areas would have Canadian officers inspecting American trucks on one side and American officers inspecting Canadian trucks on the other.
The union, which represents 3,500 Canadian Customs officers, says Canadian exporters are complaining that they can't get their goods into the United States fast enough because of increased security at the border following the Sept. 11 attacks.