News Release

National 2007

Canada’s New Government invests $1.9M to modernize border facility at Christina Lake, B.C.

Cascade, B.C., June 26, 2007 -- Dave MacKenzie, Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety, on behalf of the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, today opened the new Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) facility at the Port of Cascade. 

“Canada’s New Government is committed to investing in a smart, secure border,” said Minister Day. “This modernized facility at the Port of Cascade will help facilitate the smooth flow of legitimate trade and travel, while keeping our border secure.”

The Port of Cascade is an important gateway for tourism and commercial trade in British Columbia. It is strategically located at the north end of Interstate Highway 395, which runs all the way from the Mexican–U.S. border to the U.S.–Canada border. In addition to processing travellers and vehicles, the Port also processes commercial goods coming from the United States by rail, and clears low-risk travellers who use the CANPASS program at the Grand Forks International Airport.  

The previous facility, which was built in 1932, could not meet the requirements of the current and projected volume of travellers and commercial traffic. With these renovations, the border crossing is now better able to meet both current and future operational needs.

 “Modernizing the Port of Cascade is clearly a win-win situation for the local community and for the province as a whole,” added Mr. MacKenzie. “I am proud that Canada’s New Government has invested in this area’s future prosperity and Canada’s border security.”

The CBSA is responsible for facilitating the access of people and goods to and from Canada, and for providing integrated border services that support national security and public safety priorities. For more information, please visit the CBSA’s Web Site at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

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For media information:

Mélisa Leclerc
Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety
613-991-2863

CBSA Media Relations - Pacific Region

Facts and Figures 2007

CBSA’s Port of Cascade facility at Christina Lake, B.C.

• The Port of Cascade’s new facility will meet both the current and future needs of this strategic port.
• The new facility was modelled on the design of another Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) facility, which was built in Nelway, B.C., in 1999. The Port of Cascade facility is slightly larger as it conforms to new security advancements and code requirements introduced since September 11, 2001.
• The new facility is almost double the size of the previous facility at the Port of Cascade.
• Specifications of the new facility:
  • It is 518 m2 in total. The building is 229 m2, the primary inspection area canopy is 70 m2 and the secondary area canopy is 98.63 m2.
  • The previous facility, which was built in 1932, was 120 m2.
• Traffic volumes at the Port of Cascade for last fiscal year were the following:
  • Travellers                                205,000
  • Vehicles                                  98,000
  • Commercial vehicles               18,000  
• Canada’s New Government approved the $1.9M funding to build the new facility in May 2006.
• On September 23, 2006, officers at the Port of Cascade made the largest drug seizure ever in the Okanagan and Kootenay District when they seized 80 kilograms of cocaine that was hidden in the bed of a 4x4 pick-up truck.