The U.S. ambassador to Canada said Washington may need to reassess airport pre-clearance as part of an at-times animated exchange during a forum with Canadian business leaders on Thursday.

Addressing the Global Business Forum in Banff, Alta., Pete Hoekstra said pre-clearance locations in Canada are experiencing declining numbers.

"Matter of fact, the numbers are down. We're not sure we can make the numbers work anymore … pre-clearance is something that is done at the expense of the U.S. government. We paid for it," he said.

"You know, you can't make the numbers work anymore — you're all business people. You know what that means. You've got to take a look at some of these things."

The United States has been conducting pre-clearance " under various arrangements " at airports in Canada

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