Accelerated efforts to improve the flow of people and goods across Washington's border with Canada have received the approval of the Washington State Senate. Senator Jim Kastama's Senate Joint Memorial 8016, which was passed Friday by the Senate, commits Washington to participate in boarder action plans involving security, economic competitiveness and regulatory cooperation.

Sen. Kastama: “To facilitate economic growth going forward, this will help tremendously by increasing the cooperation between us and our neighbors to the north.”

Kastama says under the plan, Washington and Canada will work together to enhance security and accelerate the legitimate flow of people, goods, and services. British Columbia Premiere Christy Clark addressed the Senate following the passage of the Joint Memorial and spoke of the close ties between the state and her province.

Premiere Clark: “Think of our boarder as one of our greatest economic assets as we work together to try to put people on both sides of the border to work.”

Kastama agreed with Clark, telling her that improving the efficiency of the border crossing between British Columbia and Washington would help make the Northwest of the United States and Western Canada a trade and economic powerhouse in the world.