You know, with one fell swoop, we could help regenerate and instantly expand what constitutes the regional economy, and avoid all of the issues pertaining to Peace Bridge expansion encroaching on West Side neighborhoods and Shared Border Management’s, which was put out of its misery by the DHS’s own Dr. Kevorkian – Secretary Michael Chertoff.
We already have NAFTA. If we had a customs union (not a monetary union – a customs union) and continental entry and security treaty with Canada, we could eliminate the cumbersome, commerce-killing border inspections between Canada and the US. The kicker, obviously, would be harmonization of US and Canadian entry visa requirements. If all entry points to Canada and the US were manned by locally trained customs & immigration officials, all working off the same rulebook, and if visitors from overseas had to obtain a uniform North American visa, all of the Ontario Golden Horseshoe would become a part of our Buffalo region.
Hell, add in high speed rail, and you could commute from your Toronto pied a terre to your job in Buffalo, and vice-versa.
It’ll never, ever happen, but it would solve a lot of problems.
The Buffalo Record 
In theory, we have the “Union” already in the NAFTA. I say theory because I’ve never understood (i.e. researched) this concept of limits on declarations of imports and exports to and from Canada for individuals if we have the NAFTA.
What we need, as usual, is an economic and political “community.”
It boils down to trust.
I bring this up at work all the time…talking about how ridiculous the whole system is.
I’d gladly look for another job if it meant the border was open…