Re: Coming to visit the U.S. from Canada? Your Passport please...

[ken hanly <northsunm@xxxxxxxxx>]

It is interesting that Stephen Harper the new Canadian
prime minister is pro-Iraq war and pro-Bush but has
achieved nothing through his friendlier attitude. The
softwood lumber dispute is not resolved and with a new
mad cow case an open border for cattle is probably
light years away. Stockwell Day is another right wing
evangelical conservative and he as Harper is getting
nowhere.


--- Leigh Meyers <leighcmeyers@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> ...weirdness for U.S. citizens too!
>
> U.S. won't delay new border security measures
>
> Last Updated Tue, 18 Apr 2006 21:04:11 EDT
>
> CBC News
>
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/04/18/border060418.html?ref=rss
>
> The United States says it has no intention of
> delaying its plan to
> introduce tougher security checks at border
> crossings, including with
> Canada.
>
> Michael Chertoff, the U.S. Homeland Security
> secretary, told Stockwell
> Day, Canada's minister of public safety, that the
> new regulations will
> come into effect Jan. 1, 2008.
>
> As of that date, Canadians will need a passport to
> enter the United
> States at land border crossings, and Washington will
> require Americans
> to obtain a new security identity card to re-enter
> the country.
>
> Canadian officials want the plan changed or at least
> delayed.
>
> But on Tuesday, Chertoff dismissed the suggestion.
>
> "It seems to me way premature to raise the flag of
> defeat when I think
> we have ample precedent and ample ability to meet
> the deadline," he said.
>
>
> Border travel troubles predicted
>
> The U.S. plan could affect travel plans for millions
> of Canadians and
> Americans who cross the border every year. Many do
> so with simple
> identification, like drivers licences.
>
> There are fears if the new rules go ahead, many
> thousands of would-be
> visitors would just stay home rather than go to the
> trouble of obtaining
> the new documents.
>
> The Conference Board of Canada has examined the
> issue and found that
> just nine per cent of Americans without passports
> would be interested in
> obtaining the new security card. The economic
> think-tank predicts
> trouble ahead, especially for the tourism industry.
>
> Day said after meeting with Chertoff that he doesn't
> think it would be
> "responsible" to "suggest to my colleagues or to
> Canadians that the date
> is going to be extended."
>
> #33#
>
> "Osama bin Laden is still free.... How about you?"
> --anonymous
>