CANADA is planning to spend more than US$368 million over the next five years to protect its border from terrorist, economic and environmental threats, Associated Press reported.

The news agency report said Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day announced the initiative at the border crossing between Windsor and Detroit, the conduit for one-third of the $1.6 billion in daily trade that passes between Canada and the US.

"I sometimes surprise my American friends when I remind them that the trade that comes across the Ambassador Bridge in total is greater than all of the trade that exists between the United States and Japan," Mr Day told a news conference.

The report said that experts have long said Canada should tighten security along its side of the 4,000-mile border, especially since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The bulk of the money, $337 million, is for the electronic-manifest programme, which allows for computer-automated risk assessments of cargo shipments before they reach Canada.

The 18,000 trucks that cross the US-Canada border each day, as well as all rail, air and marine cargo carriers, will eventually be required to file electronic manifests before their shipments arrive.

The programme will ensure that background checks on crew and risk assessments of cargo are in the hands of the Canada Border Services Agency 24 hours in advance of the arrival of shipments by sea; and several hours ahead of rail, highway and air cargo.

Mr Day did not give a precise date of when the electronic manifests would become mandatory at the 119 border crossings.

Another $20 million has been earmarked for business leaders and emergency responders to plan for the immediate resumption of trade across the border in the event of a terrorist attack, medical pandemic or natural disaster.

Another $10 million will expand the existing Partners in Protection Programme, a voluntary scheme in which businesses and their employees help border agents detect and prevent drugs and weapons smuggling.