The provincial economy is suffering from its own success, with clogged and inefficient border crossings sucking $5.25 billion a year out of the economy, according to a study by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
“Both the federal and provincial governments have made small gestures towards fixing our ailing border crossings,” said Len Crispino, President and CEO of the OCC. “But, frankly, the gestures we have seen are not nearly sufficient for the size and scope of the problem.”
The OCC calls on the provincial government, along with the next federal government to work together with their American counterparts and the private sector, to create short, medium and long term plans that include investments in infrastructure, technology and education of drivers and transportation companies.
“Border crossings are the choke point of our economy. We know that if the border is clogged, the economy suffers immediate and dramatic damage,” said Crispino. “We have seen announcement after announcement with funding for border crossings – yet we’ve seen little progress on solutions. The OCC knows, and this study shows, that our border crossings must become a real issue for government.”
