Revenue Canada opens consultations on how to address future of customs policies

OTTAWA — Revenue Canada is wants to develop a road map for its policies over the next five years, and the agency is asking the public for direction.

The agency is calling for public comment on a paper called “Customs and Trade Administration Blueprint,” released last month.

The document outlines strategies for ensuring that customs and trade administration programs keep pace with economic growth in cross-border trade and tourism, particularly with respect to electronic commerce and Internet technologies.

Consultation will take place over the next several months. The result will be an action plan outlining Revenue Canada’s priorities for the next five years, the agency said.

In 1997, Revenue Canada said it processed 11.3 million commercial import transactions worth over $270 billion and welcomed approximately 108 million travellers to Canada. It is expected that by 2003, the number of commercial import transactions will reach 13.6 million worth almost $400 billion, and 123 million travellers will cross the border every year.