New U.S. preclearance facility opens at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport

A new pre-clearance facility at Billy Bishop Airport looks to speed things up for travellers heading to the U.S. Siobhan Morris has the details.

Passengers at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport heading to the United States will soon have a smoother travel experience, with the opening of a new preclearance facility on Tuesday.

Transport Canada, in a news release, said this new program, which is the first of its kind to open in 25 years, will “streamline” the travel experience by allowing U.S.-bound passengers to complete the customs process before departure and head directly to connections or their final destinations.

The federal institution says it will also enhance border security and early threat detection “by enabling Canada and the United States to collaborate on managing border risks and addressing shared security concerns.”

Thirdly, it will support economic growth and job creation by upping the airport’s economic contribution in the region and boosting employment on both sides of the border. It is estimated that the airport’s annual economic contribution could increase from $2.1 to $5.3 billion.

And lastly, it will strengthen trade and tourism ties by easing cross-border tourism and broader economic activity between Canada and the United States, while opening new opportunities and destinations for Canadians to the United States and connections to other areas abroad, said Transport Canada, which estimated preclearance could result in $215 million in total annual tax revenue, up from $150 million.

“Investments in Canada’s airport infrastructure continue to be crucial to maintain safety, security, and connectivity for business travellers and tourists. By facilitating the fast, secure, and efficient movement of people across the border, preclearance supports trade and economic growth,” the institution said.

‘Win’ for passengers, commercial and economic activity in Toronto

Steven MacKinnon, the federal Minister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, called this new facility a “win for passengers and a win for commercial and economic activity in Toronto.”

“This city is a key financial and commercial business centre and this airport has a critical role as a gateway for this city, particularly for those visiting for business, and there is so much opportunity here,” he said.

‘Great step forward’

Speaking with CP24 on Monday, Ontario’s Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria called the new program a “great step forward,” which gives passengers at Toronto Pearson Airport more options to travel.

“You can go to Billy Bishop, jump on a flight and more destinations will open up so we’re very excited about that. Passengers are very excited about that more optionality,” Sarkaria said, adding that Toronto needs to do more of this, especially for business travellers.

The new preclearance program will run in conjunction with the existing Transportation Security Clearance (TSC) one, which focuses on transportation security, “creating a comprehensive security system that protects travellers and facilitate trade,” says Transport Canada.

It comes as newly strengthened Preclearance Regulations are being introduced in Canada.

“As of today, amendments to the Preclearance in Canada Regulations come into force, introducing a new security screening process for individuals who need unescorted access to preclearance areas as part of their employment. The amendments are the result of close coordinated efforts between Canada and the United States to put in place a process that will strengthen Canada-US border security,” the institution said.

“The process will deny access to people with a record of criminal offences that could present risks to the integrity and security of the border. These measures apply nationwide to all facilities that host preclearance operations and will further enhance border safety across Canada all while supporting secure, efficient travel and trade with the United States.”