Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The 2026 Fifa Men’S World Cup Games: Implications For Cross-Border Travel In Cascadia, Border Policy Research Institute At Western Washington University

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

The FIFA Men’s World Cup Games are coming to North America in 2026. The games will be held in 16 cities throughout North America, with Seattle hosting 6 games and Vancouver hosting 7, and undoubtedly selling out their respective stadium capacities. With the games being held in both Seattle and Vancouver, a mere 145 miles away from each other, many fans will be crossing the border between B.C. and Washington to attend events in both places. The Games present a rare opportunity to innovate and advance the cross-border travel experience in our region and build on past successes such as …

Jay Treaty And Indigenous Student Mobility Across The Canada-U.S. Border: A Focus On The Cascadia Region, Michael O'Shea

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

This Border Brief describes the latest developments in the use of the Jay Treaty for international tuition waivers at U.S. and Canadian higher education institutions. It is based on research conducted through surveys, interviews, and the author’s previous publications to illustrate opportunities for universities and policy makers to support Indigenous student mobility across the Canada-U.S. border by recognizing the sovereignty and self-determination of Indigenous Nations.

Teleworking Across The Border: Insights From Cascadia, Andrzej Jakubowski

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

The COVID-19 Pandemic, supported by the rapid improvements in digital communication tools, has accelerated profound changes in how work is performed as millions worldwide started working remotely. Washington State and British Columbia were among the states/provinces with the highest percentage of people teleworking in the United States and Canada, respectively, mainly due to the developed industries of high technology, including the IT sector. However, as digital solutions allow for working from anywhere, they also boosted the rise of international virtual labor migration (cross-border telework), making labor mobility an even more diverse phenomenon. What remains an open question is whether telework …

Strengthening Collaboration Between Washington State And British Columbia, Ginny Broadhurst, Laurie D. Trautman

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

There are a variety of benefits that arise from collaboration across the Canada-US border. In some sectors, the value of collaboration is measurable. For example, travel or trade volumes can be equated with specific economic benefits. This is the case with tourism and supply chain networks. There are traceable benefits associated with cross-border business integration and the development of a shared ‘innovation ecosystem’. However, how does one measure the value of having good relations with neighbors? Or the benefits that result from developing more resilient environmental and economic conditions that are created by joint responses to shared natural disasters? The …

Appeals To Transboundary Ecology: Cross-Border Advocacy At The Skagit Headwaters Donut Hole, Derek Moscato

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

The Pacific Northwest’s regional news media has directed significant attention toward the Skagit River watershed since 2019 because of a controversial, long-simmering mining proposal at the international border dividing British Columbia and Washington State. At the center of this controversy sits the so-called “Donut Hole”—an area of 5,800 unprotected hectares situated between two B.C. provincial parks—Skagit Valley and Manning—located at the headwaters of the Skagit watershed.

As a result of concerns about impacts to wildlife and the surrounding North Cascades ecosystem, opposition to the project was substantial, led by environmental advocates representing a wide range of ecological, recreational, and community …

Is There A Future For Arrivecan At The Land Border?, Andrzej Jakubowski, Laurie D. Trautman

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the introduction of a number of restrictions as governments around the world sought to implement border management tools that could protect public health. One such example was the ArriveCAN app, introduced by the Government of Canada in November 2020. This advanced data submission tool aimed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by ensuring arrivals were vaccinated and by facilitating contact tracing. This Border Policy Brief provides a summary of the nearly two-year use of ArriveCAN as a border management tool during the pandemic. We consider its impact on passenger flows through the …

The Impact Of Cross-Border Environmental Media And Advocacy At The Skagit River Headwaters, Derek Moscato

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

The regional media of Cascadia has directed significant media attention toward the Skagit River watershed since 2018 as a result of a controversial mining proposal at the international border dividing British Columbia and Washington State. At the center of this con-troversy sits the so-called “Donut Hole” located at the headwaters of the Skagit watershed. As a result of concerns about impacts to wildlife and the surrounding North Cascades ecosystem, opposition to the project was substantial, led by environmental advocates and Indigenous community leaders. In turn, they harnessed extensive media coverage and advocacy to facilitate a larger regional dialogue about the …

Covid-19 And The Us-Canada Border Report 2: Canadians And Taxable Retail Sales Within Whatcom County, Border Policy Research Institute, Western Washington University

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

On February 29th, 2020, the first death from COVID-19 occurred in Washington State. Over the weeks following, both Washington State and British Columbia implemented various efforts aimed at reducing the spread of the virus. On March 14th, B.C. announced closures of many businesses, made recommendations against non-essential travel, and implemented a voluntary two week self- quarantine on Canadians returning to Canada. Two weeks later, Washington issued a stay-at- home order which went into effect March 23rd. These state and provincial measures aimed at limiting mobility were soon followed by coordinated decisions by the U.S. and Canada to limit cross-border travel. …

Cross Border Regional Planning: Insights From Cascadia, Francesco Cappellano, Kathrine Richardson, Laurie Trautman

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

This analysis focuses on different levels of Cross-Border Regional Planning (CBRP) processes in the Cascadia borderland. The region is home to the business-led initiative ‘Cascadia Innovation Corridor’ (CIC), designed to foster cross-border economic integration. The CIC strives to build a global innovation ecosystem in Cascadia, including a new high-speed train to connect Seattle and Vancouver. This paper focuses on the scope of the CIC as a CBRP case. The authors evaluate engagement of city governments and coherency between different planning scales to determine whether the CIC has been addressing the major challenges that may prevent tighter economicintegration in Cascadia. The …

Covid-19 And The Us-Canada Border Report 1: Covid-19 And The Us-Canada Border: Retail Shopping Destinations For Canadians In Whatcom County, Border Policy Research Institute, Western Washington University

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

On February 29, 2020, the first death from COVID-19 occurred in Washington State. Over the weeks following, both Washington State and British Columbia implemented various efforts aimed at reducing the spread of the virus. On March 14th, B.C. announced closures of many businesses, made recommendations against non-essential travel, and implemented a voluntary two week self-quarantine on Canadians returning to Canada. Two weeks later, Washington issued a stay-at-home order which went into effect March 23rd. These state and provincial measures aimed at limiting mobility coincided with the bilateral decision by the U.S. and Canada to limit cross-border travel. These restrictions, which …

The Changing Landscape Of Border Crossing Documents, Border Policy Research Institute, Western Washington University

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

This Border Policy Brief examines the topic of border crossing documents in the context of policy changes at different scales, including provincial, state, and U.S. federal approaches. Specifically, it examines the upcoming implementation of the REAL ID Act in the U.S., the growing elimination of Enhanced Driver’s License programs in Canada, and disruptions to the NEXUS program. It provides an overview of the effects these policy shifts may have on the types of documents used to cross the Canada – U.S. border, using Blaine, Washington as an example. The Brief explores the importance of different ID types and their capabilities, …

Non-Governmental Organizations And Cross-Border Environmental Cooperation: Salish Sea And Baltic Sea Regions, Margit Säre, Border Policy Research Institute At Western Washington University, Borders In Globalization Sshrc Research Program At The Centre For Global Studies At The University Of Victoria

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

There are transboundary watersheds all over the globe in which community members are concerned about the healthy water ecosystems and take actions. Governance systems, policies, and local stakeholders’ engagement in transboundary water management can be quite different from one country to another, depending on political regimes, interstate relations, histories of civil society, available funding and more.

The Salish Sea is a transboundary body of water bisected by the U.S–Canada border between Washington State and British Columbia. In addition to governmental agencies, Indigenous people and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are increasingly playing a role in crossborder cooperation within the basin.

This research …

Cross Border Innovation Economies: The Cascadia Innovation Corridor Case, Francesco Cappellano Phd, Border Policy Research Institute, Western Washington University, Borders In Globalization, University Of Victoria

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

In the recent literature on economic geography, cross-border regions have been highly heralded as potential sources for reaping the benefits of innovation (OECD, 2013). In fact, those regions have gained a reputation as being endowed with comparative advantages to compete in global markets (Vance, 2012). However, the types of processes that are occurring in the region, which act as hindrances (or barriers) to cross-border knowledge flows, have remained a significant but understudied topic in the academic literature. The same lack of understanding is widespread among the policy makers engaged in cross-border issues, specifically in terms of improved Cross Border Cooperation …

The Cascadia Innovation Corridor: Advancing A Cross-Border Economy, Laurie Trautman, Francesco Cappellano, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

The Cascadia Innovation Corridor (CIC) is a regional public-private effort to better integrate the innovation economy, transportation connectivity, and communities along the Western side of the Cascade Mountains from Vancouver, British Columbia to Portland, Oregon. The goal of the CIC is to position this cross-border region to be stronger together and compete on a global stage.

This Border Policy Brief provides an analysis of stakeholder’s perspectives on the drivers and hindrances related to expanding business activities across the border in the CIC, which are key elements to the viability of the effort. The Brief also highlights the critical role of …

Border Barometer, Border Policy Research Institute, Western Washington University, University At Buffalo, The State University Of New York, Cross-Border Institute, University Of Windsor

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

Running 5,000 miles between two of the world's most interdependent nations, the Canada-U.S. border plays an important role, directly and indirectly, in the lives of millions of North Americans. Whether as separator or seam, obstruction or conduit, the border influences a wide range of economic social interactions. The precise influence depends on a variety of policies and the extent to which those policies facilitate the movement of goods, people, capital, and ideas while ensuring the individual and collective security of the two countries.

The Effect Of The Canada-U.S. Border On The Vancouver, Bc, And Seattle, Wa, Music Network, Nabil Kamel, Lindsey Nordby, Henry Haro, Claire Swearingen

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

This Border Policy Brief examines the degree of connectivity between the two music scenes of Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC, which are less than 150 miles apart and share similar socio-demographic, economic, and regional characteristics. This Brief focuses on the effect of the Canada – U.S. border on the degree of connectivity between those music scenes and points out some opportunities and challenges faced by independent music artists in the early stages of their career, including Indigenous artists. The research presented here includes highlights from a broader project (see sidebar).

The vitality of the music industry in the two city-regions …

Passenger Flows Through The Cascade Gateway: Changes From 2013 To 2018, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

Every five years, the BPRI partners with the Whatcom Council of Governments to conduct a passenger vehicle intercept survey at four ports of entry between British Columbia and Washington State.Students from Western Washington University intercept drivers as they cross the border in both directions and ask them a variety of questions related to trip purpose and travel characteristics (see sidebar). This Border Brief provides a preliminary analysis of survey findings from the summer of 2018 and compares them to the responses collected in the summer of 2013. It also considers the impacts of changes in cross-border travel in the Cascade …

Regional Cross-Border Collaboration Between The U.S. & Canada, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

On October 24th, 2018, the BPRI hosted a one-day forum to assess the state of cross-border collaboration between British Columbia and Washington State. The forum brought together regional experts from government, academia, and private industry to discuss the successes, barriers, and opportunities for cross-border collaboration across three ‘sectors’: transportation/infrastructure, business/economics, and the environment (see sidebar). U.S. Congressman Rick Larsen provided opening remarks about the region and Canadian Coast Guard Regional Director Brian Wooton gave a keynote address on collaboration in the marine environment. This Border Policy Brief highlights some of the findings from the forum, which illustrate the need for …

Canadian And U.S. Efforts To Combat Human Trafficking, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

Human trafficking across the Canada—U.S. border is receiving more attention and concern, both in the media and by public officials. There are many assumptions about the state of trafficking, yet little data exists on who is trafficked, how many people are involved, or the origin and destination of trafficking flows. This lack of information makes it challenging to create evidence-based policies. Additionally, although some federal and regional networks of collaboration are well-established, there are key differences in how trafficking in persons (TIP) is legally defined in the U.S. and Canada, which inhibits accurate data collection and the effectiveness of cross-border …

Cannabis In Cascadia: Impacts Of Legalization In The Region, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

The policies regulating the use and sale of cannabis have historically been constructed differently in the United States and Canada, yet both countries had deemed recreational use to be illegal. Beginning in 2012, however, individual states in the U.S. began to legalize recreational cannabis, including Washington, Oregon, and most recently, California. In 2017, the Government of Canada passed similar legislation. If Canada’s legislation goes into effect in mid-2018, the West Coast of North America will become the only contiguous region where recreational consumption and sale of cannabis are permitted across multiple jurisdictions (see Map 1, next page). However, because cannabis …

Modernizing The Columbia River Treaty, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

In February of 2017, Western Washington University (WWU) and Northwest Indian College (NWIC) hosted a two-day symposium titled, “The Changing Environment and the Columbia River Treaty.” The purpose of the symposium was to develop public awareness and inform treaty negotiators from the U.S. and diplomats from Canada on key issues to address when modernizing the Treaty. This event brought together tribal and First Nations leaders, representatives from government and private industry, non-governmental organizations and academics to discuss the modernization of the Columbia River Treaty (CRT).

Changes In Canadian Shopping Visits To Northwest Washington, 2013-2016, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

In 2013, the BPRI launched a long-term study to analyze the behavior of Canadians crossing the border to shop in Northwest Washington by counting the percentage of Canadian license plates in specified shopping locations along the Interstate 5 corridor. Our “license plate survey” includes data collected over the course of 6 weeks (3 days per week), for a total of 18 survey days in 2013 and 2016. This Border Policy Brief is a comparative analysis of the data collected in 2013, when the loonie averaged $0.97 USD, and data collected in 2016 in the same locations, when the loonie averaged …

Land-Based Freight Flows Between The Us And Its Nafta Neighbors, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

This Brief provides an overview of the flow of goods between the U.S. and its two NAFTA neighbors, Canada and Mexico. For the U.S., the value and composition of freight that flows between its northern and southern borders varies significantly by port and region, and this variety inevitably has implications for border management policies and infrastructure investment needs. By providing an overview of the economic geography of the U.S.’s land-based trade with its NAFTA partners, this Brief seeks to inform decisions about border management and infrastructure investment, while also illustrating the value of cross-border trade to the U.S. economy.

Passenger Preclearance In The Pacific Northwest, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

On March 16, 2015, the U.S. and Canada signed a Preclearance Agreement. The Agreement gives both countries the authority to implement passenger preclearance beyond the air mode (see sidebar) and expand to the land, rail, and marine modes of transportation. In addition, the Agreement enables Canada to request the U.S. to regularize existing U.S. immigration pre-inspection sites, namely at cruise, rail, and ferry terminals in British Columbia. This Border Policy Brief highlights rail and marine locations in the Pacific Northwest that will be affected by the Preclearance Agreement, and monetizes some of the benefits accrued to both travelers and operators …

Exchange Rates, Border Crossings, And Retail Sales In The Cascade Gateway, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

One year ago, BPRI published a Border Brief analyzing the relationship between the Canada – U.S. exchange rate and crossing volumes in the Cascade Gateway (see Winter 2015 Border Brief). At that time, the decline in the value of the Canadian Dollar (CAD), which began significantly in mid-2013, had already influenced the volume of cross-border travel in the region and has continued to do so since. This Border Brief updates our previous analysis, and goes beyond crossing volumes to consider the economic impacts associated with the continued drop in Canadian cross-border travelers.

Monetizing Some Benefits Of Participation In Nexus, Christopher Dingman, Daniel Edgel

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

There are many benefits of the NEXUS program, ranging from personal time savings to improved security. While monetizing those benefits is challenging, it is important to assess the value of NEXUS and provide information that can support further expansion of the program. This Border Brief quantifies certain individual economic benefits of membership in the NEXUS program using data from 2012 to 2014. We focus on the Peace Arch/Douglas crossing, where the traffic volume is high and a large percentage of travelers are enrolled in NEXUS.

Improving The Process Of Adjudicating Tn Status, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

In 1994, pursuant to NAFTA, the TN (for “Trade NAFTA”) labor-mobility provision was established. The TN concept was intended to meet the goal of “facilitating temporary entry on a reciprocal basis and of establishing transparent criteria and procedures for temporary entry” amongst the three NAFTA countries. For Canadian citizens seeking temporary work of a professional nature in the U.S., TN status created an alternative to the H-1B program, which was established in 1990. The process of gaining TN status was meant to be simpler than that of acquiring H-1B status, and no cap on the number of TN workers was …

Exchange Rates And Border Crossings In The Cascade Gateway, Border Policy Research Institute

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

There has been recent speculation about the influence of the declining Canadian dollar on the volume of cross-border travel. This article explores that relationship in the context of the Cascade Gateway, which is the group of border crossings (Peace Arch, Pacific Highway, Lynden/Aldergrove, and Sumas/Abbotsford) that serve the Interstate 5 corridor, connecting Whatcom County, WA, to the Lower Mainland of B.C.

The Pacific Northwest As An Emerging Arctic Region, Heather Exner-Pirot, Joel Plouffe

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

This border brief, authored by two Arctic scholars, takes a special look at how borders are changing in the Arctic. The fast-changing Arctic is increasingly defined by boundaries drawn at a regional scale, rather than traditional borders that are based on national lines. This has major implications for the national and foreign policies of both Arctic and non-Arctic actors. The Pacific Northwest, which has an Arctic foothold through the northern subnational units of Alaska, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories (NWT), has been playing an active role in this regionalization process for several years, and seeks to expand its presence, …

Washington State's Economy In Relation To Canada And The Border, Paul Storer, David L. (David Lindsay) Davidson, Laurie Trautman

Border Policy Research Institute Publications

Economic ties have spanned the contemporary border between Washington State and Canada for as long as the Pacific Northwest has been inhabited. The native peoples of North America interacted across the border for centuries prior to the arrival of European explorers. In the early 19th century, the major regional European economic entity was the Hudson’s Bay Company. The fur-trading operations of this British-chartered corporation took place throughout its “Columbia Department” (a region that straddled the modern Canada – U.S. border), with outposts at locations such as Fort Vancouver and Fort Nisqually. The contemporary border dates from 1846, when the 49th …