To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. SBI COMES NORTH assets may prove more effective ways of keeping tabs on the northern border because of the vastly different terrain. “So it’s a question of numbers of people. It’s a question of how do those people typically come across the border—it tends to be different on the north than along the south. And it’s a question of terrain and geography. The question is where are you likely to see terrorists coming or where is drug smuggling more of a threat? Our perceptions of it can be different on the northern border compared to the southern border,” he said. entire supply chain, agreed Shirley-Ann George, director of policy at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “Why are we doing all of these inspections at the border? We have to stop thinking about the border as a line. We should do inspections wherever we can increase security and increase efficiency. We have to increase both,” George told Homeland Security Today. Both the US and Canadian governments have done much to increase data requirements on shipments coming into their countries, which enables them to focus their resources based on the perceived risk associated with a shipment. Both nations must work out computer glitches and manpower, but such problems are not difficult to solve. “We have decades of good history on Canada/US cooperation that has worked well. The Saint Lawrence Seaway, for example, has been co-managed for years. We have done work where we have comanaged some environmental measures. We co-manage the Canada/US airspace with our joint command in Colorado. That is expanding to the seas now, as well,” she noted. Shared management of the border would best enable authorities to quickly identify trusted shippers and travelers and divert their focus to those that appear less secure, George concluded. Authorities can meet border security goals while protecting commercial interests through smart applications of programs like SBInet coupled with funding that benefits law enforcement agents like the grants from Operation Stonegarden. Following the lead of regions located in the northern states, federal authorities also should form a closer partnership with Canada to tackle mutual concerns. As the chambers of commerce indicate, trusted partnerships are the key to true security. HST Analysis Ultimately, the US government must focus its resources more effectively and provide additional benefits to entities that have been cleared through security processes, such as companies participating in the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), Adam Salerno, senior manager of the US Chamber of Commerce, told Homeland Security Today. “We need a more cooperative approach when developing these policies,” Salerno said. “Our government and their government need to work together with the private sector to facilitate trade and move us away from a thickening of the border. “Moving security away from the border and moving it toward the supply chain is a more effective approach,” he added. “We support the C-TPAT program; however, the benefits of C-TPAT seem to be continuingly diminishing. CBP should be focused on increasing the benefits in C-TPAT and increasing the membership of C-TPAT, so that companies have a true incentive to join the program.” Authorities in the United States and Canada would do well to stop thinking of the border so literally and to concentrate on the DIGNIFIED BURIAL FOR DISASTER EVENTS All natural wood Ships & stores flat TM Assembles without tools When the system is overwhelmed, the Everybody Coffin provides response organizations a traditional approach to burying the deceased. At under $200, the Everybody Coffin is a functional, affordable way to provide dignified burial during disaster recovery. TM For more information on the Eveybody Coffin please call 1-800-355-4628 or visit dqeready.com/everybody ©2009 DQE, Inc. TM Ready now for what’s next.™ Everybody TM Coffin MC4042 36 April 2009 | www.HSToday.us This month’s issue is now available online at…