TORONTO, Ont. – 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 released recently 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 chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce.

“But, frankly, the gestures we have seen are not nearly sufficient for the size and scope of the problem.”

Border delays affect every individual and business in the province.

Twenty-five per cent of Ontarians are directly employed because of the province’s exports to the United States.

Since 1989 trade with the U.S. has grown by 152 per cent, leading to an increase of 122 per cent in commercial traffic across the border.

By the year 2030, delays in the Detroit-Windsor corridor alone will result in direct costs to Canada and the US of more than $17.8 billion a year and will result in over 70,000 jobs lost in Canada. Currently, both the Canadian and American economies are losing a staggering $13.6 billion annually from their economies due to delays at the border, the study concludes.

The OCC is calling 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.”

The full report and background information will be posted at www.occ.on.ca