Canada’s Western Gateway Trade & Logistics Corridor, through Economic Development Lethbridge, hosted a recent roundtable discussion entitled, Saving Time & Money Crossing the Coutts Border.
The event was aimed at helping trucking, shipping, warehousing, and other logistics businesses in the region with advice from industry experts.
Industry Engagement Coordinator Rylan Howard says the event featured a professional customs broker from the Coutts border crossing and a superintendent from the Canada Border Services Agency with presentations and a live Q & A.
“I think the best thing was employers left with practical steps to be proactive to reduce delays immediately. There was a lot of information about how to reduce unnecessary delays, reduce friction, and working with CBSA. More specifically, this CARM Client Portal, a lot of carriers are having to navigate. There was some really good clarification about that in the room,” Howard explains.
A lot of work done through Canada’s Western Gateway is engaging with business owners to learn what opportunities and challenges are in this region, Howard notes. “Something that came up while I was talking to a carrier is they told me whenever their wheels are stopped, they’re losing money.”
Moving forward, Howard adds it’s up to the carriers now to use the information for themselves. Although I do plan to do more similar events like this, and the feedback was really positive. I’m hoping to do more, not just on reducing friction, but I’d like to get into supporting these companies with their workforce also.”
Howard says between all the stakeholders, the vision is “we’re brighter together.”
“Canada’s Western Gateway is a partnership of seven municipalities along Highway 4. We have a common goal of increasing our region’s capacity for transportation, logistics, and warehousing. It’s not just the municipalities who are working together, but we’re also getting the businesses to work together or these government organizations such as the CBSA,” Howard notes.
The seven partnering municipalities include the City of Lethbridge, Lethbridge County, Stirling, Warner County, the Village of Warner, Milk River, and the Village of Coutts.
