WASHINGTON, (Mar. 15, 2005) — A task force, which includes former Deputy Prime Minister John Manley, released a report that promotes a single border pass for Canadian, U.S., and Mexican travellers and transport workers.

The tri-national group says that in order to ensure North American trade, the three countries need to create a single, voluntary biometric identifier, so that pre-approved, low-risk people could move between the three jurisdictions more easily.

Canadian Press reports that the group also wants the three countries to merge into a single trading space, and a common external tariff on goods would erase regulatory differences and ease congestion at shipping ports and border crossings.

The objective is not to create a mega-bureaucracy like the European Union, but to develop more collaboration among three sovereign countries.

Other recommendations include: the creation of a tri-national threat intelligence centre and jointly train officers from the three countries; Develop a strategy to protect North American energy supplies; Establish a North American investment fund to help Mexico’s economy; Establish a North American advisory council to monitor progress on such decisions.

— from Canadian Press