COTA supports border crossing processes and documentation that ensure an efficient and professional border crossing experience for low risk travellers (which constitute the majority of travellers).

COTA supports processes and documentation solutions that:
- Acknowledge and address the economic impact of any
proposed solution
- Are supported by extensive marketing and public awareness efforts
COTA supports processes that:
- Remove border processing from the physical borders, as in pre-clearance
- Minimize the wait time for travellers while crossing the physical borders
- Emphasize a customer relations approach by border personnel
COTA supports secure border crossing document solutions that:
- Describe a clear standard for crossing
- Are inexpensive and easily accessible
- Acknowledge the varying needs of travellers by including a multi-layered approach
- Address the unique need for students and children, aged sixteen and under, to be able to cross the border at a nominal cost


Policy Updated 06-11-23

Whereas the pacific wild salmon is an essential resource to British Columbia, contributing to the unique bio- and eco-diversity of the province;

And, whereas the pacific wild salmon is the backbone of the sport fishing industry which draws export dollars to the province through visitation of tourists seeking this unique BC experience;

And, whereas the BC sport fishing industry is a significant component of BC’s $9.5 billion tourism industry;

And, whereas the science is not as yet conclusive regarding the relationship of aquaculture located on the migratory routes of salmon to the viability of the salmon;

And, whereas time is of the essence to protect future salmon runs,

The Council of Tourism Associations (COTA) expresses the following interests in the sustainability of wild salmon in British Columbia:

1. Interest in the on-going viability and growth of BC’s wild salmon stocks, and of the vibrant tourism industry sectors which are dependent on an adequate supply of wild salmon;

2. Interest in the conclusions of the Pacific Salmon Forum, created by the BC government in December of 2004 but which has yet to report out on a reliable and consistent set of scientific data regarding the root cause of declines of certain wild salmon off the coast of BC;

3. Interest in the recent findings by Krkosek, Lewis, Morton et al (approved through peer review August 2006) that definitely state that “farm-origin lice induced 9-95% mortality in several sympatric wild juvenile pink and chum salmon populations”.

4. Interest in ensuring that the accelerated depletion of runs of pink salmon in certain rivers in the Broughton Archipelago within the last decade does not continue to increase;

5. Interest in obtaining assurance that planned fish farm expansion in the North and Central coast, in the absence of definitive evidence from either the Government of BC or the Government of Canada that farming is not adversely affecting some salmon stocks, does not negatively affect salmon viability in those areas;

6. Interest in the fact that the aquaculture industry provides an important service in contributing to the world’s growing demand for fish protein and seafood products, thereby lessening the need for mass harvesting of wild salmon in BC.

7. Interest in convening industry-to-industry discussions to discuss potential precautionary actions that may be taken to assure the on-going viability of BC’s salmon stocks.

COTA therefore strongly recommends:
That the Canadian and BC governments take action to ensure that fin fish aquaculture is not detrimental to tourism industry sectors that rely on a wild salmon population.