Internal probe finds Canada's rail freight inspection inadequate

MEASURES currently in place for inspecting thousands of shipping containers entering Canada each year by rail are found to be failing to adequately check for contraband and illegal goods.

"The amount and level of targeting has decreased due to a lack of resources," cited an August Treasury Board review of a border screening programme known as "Winfall" that was officially launched in 2000.

The Canadian Press national news agency obtained the results of the review only after an appeal under the Freedom of Information Act.

The Treasury Broad website, under which the Canadian Border Agency falls, had already announced: "A review will be conducted of the Winfall programme to ensure that it continues to be the agency's most effective and efficient rail targeting solution.

Winfall allows the agency to conduct targeting of rail shipments before they arrive at the border for the purpose of identifying shipments that are at high risk for containing contraband. The review will be completed by the end of the 2008-2009 fiscal year."

It said there are now only two officers available for the inspection of around 400,000 rail cars and containers annually instead of the four assigned to the programme based in Winnipeg.

The news agency said the officers are "given almost no training, close shop on weekends, get little support from other security officers, and have few facilities for inspecting shipments."

The programme was found to be operating between 0900 hrs and 1700 hrs, Monday to Friday, despite rail traffic moving round the clock.

The report said the programme relies on internal shipping data provided by Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway, which together handle more than 95 per cent of all rail traffic in Canada.

The railways provide the data up to six days before shipments originating in Mexico and the United States arrive in Canada, to enable inspectors to target suspect rail cars and containers.

According to the report the two officers often received little co-operation with other sections of the Canada Border Services Agency when a rail car or container inspection was required.

(Source: Schednet)