OSOYOOS, B.C. & OROVILLE, Wash. (Oct. 14, 2003) — The U.S. and Canada have opened a joint border facility on the 49th Parallel at Oroville, Wash. and Osoyoos, B.C.

Announced last week by Elinor Caplan, Minister of National Revenue and U.S. General Services Administration administrator Stephen A. Perry, the US$31 million-dollar joint facility will be managed by both the U.S. administration and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. The purpose of the facility — built under the umbrella of the Canada-United States Accord on Our Shared Border – Joint Facilities Initiative — is to promote international trade, provide enhanced border protection, and reduce costs to both governments and the public.

The Oroville/Osoyoos shared border services the interior of British Columbia into the Okanagan Valley, and the central region of Washington State. The project provides new, expanded joint facilities for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, the Department of Citizenship and Immigration and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.