U.S. ambassador says Washington has to 'take a look' at airport pre-clearance, citing drop in Canadian tourism
Posted on: Sep 26, 2025 04:58 IST | Posted by: Cbc
The U.S. Embassador to Canada said booker taliaferro washington may demand to reevaluate drome pre-clearance as part of an at-times animated exchange during a forum with Canadian business leaders on Thursday.
Addressing the Global Business Forum in Banff, Alta., Pete Hoekstra said pre-clearance locations in Canada are experiencing declining numbers.
"Matter of fact, the numbers are down. We're not sure we can make the numbers work anymore … pre-clearance is something that is done at the expense of the U.S. Government. We paid for it," he said.
"You know, you can't make the numbers work anymore — you're all business people. You know what that means. You've got to take a look at some of these things."
The United States has been conducting pre-clearance "under various arrangements" at airports in Canada since 1952. It allows customs and immigration officials from the destination country to be located in the country of origin.
Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat who served as moderator of the forum, later pushed back on those remarks.
"Pre-clearance was brought in by [president Dwight] Eisenhower. It's worked really well," Robertson said.
"When Canadians go to the States — maybe not as many did a year and a half ago or half a year ago — but we're still going an awful lot. We're your biggest source of tourism. If you end pre-clearance, doesn't that cut off your nose to spite your face?"
Hoekstra responded: "Nobody said we're ending pre-clearance. Don't put words in my mouth."
"I heard you say, 'We have to look at it,'" Robertson said.
"These are all business people, all right? If you have a business segment that is down 20 to 25 per cent," Hoekstra said.
U.S. Customs and immigration officers are currently conducting pre-clearance operations at airports in Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
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