Fact sheet

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Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec

• Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle is Quebec's busiest border crossing and an important link between Montréal and the American East. It provides direct access to Highway 15 in Canada and Interstate 87 in the United States. Last year, more than 2.3 million travellers entered Canada at this crossing. Customs officers also processed more than 800,000 cars and 300,000 trucks.
  
  
• There is also significant traffic from scheduled and chartered buses. Last year, customs officers processed almost 10,000 buses.
  
  
• There are 75 customs officers working at this crossing, which is open to travellers and commercial clients 24 hours a day.
  
  
• Before June 1993, this crossing was known as Lacolle Route 15. Revenue Canada renamed it at the request of the community of Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle.
  
  
• The improvements to the facility will allow Revenue Canada to introduce innovative programs and services that balance the need to protect Canadians while promoting the competitiveness of Canadian business.
  
  
• The new facilities will let customs officers make better use of the following computerized systems:

  TEPS (Travellers Entry Processing System) - This lets officers quickly collect duties and taxes from returnin" residents.

  PALS (Primary Automated Lookout System) - Officers use l®cence-plate-reader technology and a data base to detect high-risk travellers.

  ACROSS (Accelerated Commercial Release Operations Support System) - Officers use this to electronically receive release data from clients.

  PARS (Prearrival Review System) - Officers use this to review release documentation before a shipment reaches the border. Unless an examination is required, officers can release the shipment as soon as it arrives.

  FIRST (Frequent Importer Release System) - Officers use this to streamline the release process for frequent importers of low-risk goods. At the Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle crossing, officers process about 52% of releases using either PARS or FIRST.

  ICES (Integrated Customs Enforcement System) - This is a nationally integrated system designed to support a strategic approach to border enforcement.

Construction project

• The project started in June 1995, and was completed on schedule and within budget. The project included reconstruction, renovations and restoration, as well as the acquisition of land. These were the first major renovations since the facility was built in 1949. Including the goods and services tax, the total cost of this capital construction project was $19.8 million.
  
  
• The travellers building is a new, two-storey structure which will house international traffic operations for customs and immigration. Key features of this facility include:

  - an expanded travellers services area;
  - a lane for the CANPASS - Highway program; and
  - new booths at the primary inspection line to increase officer safety and efficiency.

• The commercial building, with its curved arcade and chimney, is a designated heritage building. To preserve its heritage status, this part of the original structure has been repaired and updated. The stone façade has been restored. All of the new finishes and features were selected to complement the heritage designation of this building. Key features include:

  - the installation of two booths at the primary inspection line;
  - cargo bays increased from three to six; and
  - improved access and exit roads for trucks.

Date modified:

1998-03-01