The federal government is asking Canadians for ideas to boost cross-border trade and security.

The government is launching public consultations on a joint Canada-United States plan to improve how the border is managed. The plan was announced last month by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama.

Canadians have until April 21 to make their views known through the website www.borderactionplan.gc.ca.

International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan said the border is of vital importance to both countries and their economies: cross-border trade supports one-in-three Canadian jobs as well as eight million jobs in the U.S.

About $1.8 billion in goods and services cross the border each day, along with roughly 200,000 people, according to the government website.