The Windsor Star from Windsor, Ontario, Canada • 52

The Windsor Star Business ystomms testiini oo want crossoim Waits at the border could be thing of the past i 3 i i i L. i i p-r i I l--- 1 fa to can border with ease. All successful applicants will be issued a card that will be good for crossing the border both ways through a dedicated lane on the Bluewater Bridge. Canadian officials will interview U.S. applicants and Americans will interview Canadians.

Wonderful example "This is a wonderful example of partnership between our two countries and the four agencies involved," said Tony van Ravenswaay, program manager of passenger programs for the U.S. Customs Service in Washington. "The only people accepted will be people accepted by both countries." Applicants must have no criminal record and no violations of the customs laws of either country. The program will operate for six months before it is evaluated by an independent third party contractor. If reviews are favourable its use will expand to other points such as Windsor.

The hope is that by allowing the successful applicants to pass through the border freely that queues for other traffic will shorten. By Chris Thompson star staff reporter Law-abiding Canadians and Americans could be crossing the border freely within years if a pilot project in Sarnia and Port Huron is a success. Officials with the Canada Customs and the United States Customs Service detailed the NEXUS project at the Trade Corridors Conference at the Cleary International Centre Thursday. "Modernizing our border is a government priority," said Earle Warren, director of special projects for the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. "This will make travel and trade faster and more efficient.

Compliance is the key to our success. We need to improve compliance because Canadians expect us to." Customs officials in Sarnia and Port Huron have begun taking applications for the project, which is set to go into operation on Nov. 28. Application forms are the same for both countries. Currently residents of Canada and the U.S.

must apply for a CanPass to cross the Canadian border freely and a Port Pass to cross the Ameri The four speakers promoting high-speed rail links to the Solutions 2000 conference pose with the Detroit skyline In the distance Thursday at the Cleary Centre. Pictured from the left are Alexander Metcaff of Transportation Economics and Management Systems, Marcus Mason of Amtrak, George Mekosh of Bombardier and Phil Kazmlerskl of the Michigan Department of Transport. Star photo: Ted Rhodes Bullet trains still shooting blanks Too costly for WindsorQuebec corridor By Veronique Mandal star staff reporter A hot topic at the Trade Corridors conference in Windsor Thursday was high-speed rail, but Federal Transportation Minister David Col-lenette says the best the Windsor-Quebec corridor can hope for is a faster version of the present service. is tOi rl 1 iiiil11lw'iMllP 7. speed) between Quebec and Windsor but I think it has to be done in stages because we don't have the population base to invest all that money and then what do you do with other modes." Collenette said his government could not justify trying to encourage airline competition if it were to spend $7 billion on high-speed rail.

"We'd be severely criticized for that," Collenette said. "But at least we've made a start." Alexander Metcalf, president, Transportation Economics Management Systems, presented the 150 delegates from Canada and the U.S. with an overview of the massive restructuring of rail transportation in the U.S. where some high -speed service is used, but mostly the higher speed model. Sink or swim To bring such a service to this corridor, the provincial and federal governments would be required to come up with the $1 billion, but would then demand that Via Rail, or some other company, run the rail service like a business and at a profit.

Via's $120 million federal subsidy would be cutoff. "In the U.S. Amtrak is being given first dibs on running the service, but if it doesn't turn a profit, out they go," said Metcalf. "The idea is to give people the level of service High speed trains travel at 320 kmh and to introduce them in the Windsor-Quebec corridor would cost about $17 billion and would require a completely new stock of tracks. Higher speed trains roll at a brisk 110 kmh and would cost about $1 billion by upgrading the present rail beds.

David Collenette Federal Transportation Minister David Collenette made it clear his government cannot afford the $7 billion (of the $17 billion) it would require for a high-speed rail service. He was more optimistic, however, about the slow implementation of a higher speed service. "We want to upgrade the current network and follow the lead of what they're doing in the said Collenette. "Hopefully in my lifetime we'll see a TGV (high they expect when they fly, but cheaper, a better quality of trains than they're used to and trains that run on time." Stock dive continues Oil, gas, gold sectors insulate TSE from full shock Home of the new Odette School of Business at the University of Windsor. More than ever the University of Windsor means business Announcing the Edmond Louis Odette School of Business and the Odette Chair of Business Studies With a newiy endowed Chair of Business Studies, a new Dean, Dr.

Roger Hussey and acclaimed MBA and undergraduate programs, the Odette School of Business has set its sights on an even higher standard of academic and research excellence. Our commitment to giving students and the business community the tools they need to succeed has never been greater. Learn more by visiting us on-line at www.mba.uwindsor.ca. The Odettes have been gracious supporters of the University for more than 30 years. 10,026.9.

"Obviously we continue to be lambasted by doubtful revenue and earnings projections and that's unsettling," said veteran trader Fred Ketchen of Scotia Capital Markets. Bad earnings announcements have afflicted high tech for weeks. But the sudden inclusion of a blue-chip standard like Home Depot combined with political uncertainty in the Middle East produced grim results. Brakes applied The Nasdaq, already diminished from weeks of technology losses, dove 94.5 points to 3,074, its By Joan Walters southamnews TORONTO Oil, gas and gold protected the Toronto Stock Exchange from the full shock of the tumultuous forces that swept North American markets on Thursday But Toronto still dipped briefly below the psychologically important 10,000 trading level for the first time since June as markets digested the impact of increased hostilities in the West Bank and an attack on a U.S. navy vessel in the overheated Middle East.

Oil prices soared, reigniting inflation worries and stampeding a group of investors already anxious over profit warnings. Earnings bombshell Selloffs in Toronto and on the Nasdaq and Dow Jones in New York followed the latest earnings bombshell. Mega-retailer Home Depot Inc. said its results would suffer from lower prices for lumber and building materials, dropping that stock 28 per cent. Toronto was down 147.8 points to 9,997 in afternoon trading, approaching its June 14 close of 9,972 but the TSE closed down 118 points at lowest close this year.

The Dow Jones plunged so quickly at one point that trading brakes fleetingly kicked in. It jerked to a close of 10,031.72, down 380 points. The Dow's pummeling was from Home Depot a major component of the Dow Jones industri al average and sagging bank and financial stocks. In Toronto, Sears Canada dove past its 52-week. 6 6 low of $30.75 in a drubbing of retail stocks that analysts attributed to Home Depot, whose stock dropped $13.81 US to $35.12 US, a level not seen mm WLIPP! since January 1999.

Sears fell $3.95, or almost 13 per cent, to $27. fit? ftte ifoa -mm Buy your tickets now. This Friday, you could have it all. For more information call 1-800-387-0098 pour renseignements en francais. T.f "i.