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Current U.S. Proposal Threatens Prosperity On Both Sides Of The Border
TORONTO, Oct. 28 /CNW/ - The Ontario government is calling upon the
United States to reconsider their proposed passport initiative under the
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) which, in 2008, would require all
Canadians and Americans returning from visiting Canada to have a passport to
enter the United States. The government's submission to the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security was delivered today.
"The authors of the passport requirement were right to think about border
security, but the proposal threatens unintended economic damage," said Ontario
Minister of Tourism and Jim Bradley. "The American economy has as much to lose
from the passport requirement as Canada does."
Ontario is the largest Canadian port of entry into the U.S., accounting
for 52 per cent of all Canadian border crossings into the U.S. during 2004. In
that year Ontario received 21.4 million U.S. visitors, whose expenditures
amounted to nearly US$3.3 billion. The U.S. received 18.3 million visits from
Ontario residents, who spent approximately US$4.3 billion. The economic
importance is further magnified considering that 31.5 million visits were made
by Canadians to the United States in 2004, spending US$7.7 billion.
Ontario is proposing to identify and develop alternative forms of "secure
documentation", such as a new, more secure drivers licence or other forms of
documentation that would comply with the requirements of the U.S. Real ID Act,
2005.
"The Ontario government is prepared and eager to advance these proposals
in collaboration with elected representatives from all levels of government in
Canada and the United States," said Bradley. "We are strongly urging the U.S.
Government to take into account the concerns expressed by many on both sides
of the border, and the potential impacts on both economies."
Bradley also expressed his concern that the requirement of a passport-
like document will not only affect the economy and business but also friends,
families, historic and vital personal relationships.
Backgrounder
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THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING THE FOLLOWING
IN RESPONSE TO THE U.S. PASSPORT PROPOSAL
As a first step, a bi-national working group should be established to
identify and develop proposals for alternative forms of "secure
documentation", such as a new, more secure drivers licence or other forms of
documentation that would comply with the requirements of the U.S. Real ID Act,
2005. Today, a driver's licence, whether issued by a department of motor
vehicles in a Province of Canada or a U.S. State is the most common form of
identity document;
In addition, proposals for alternative forms of "secure documentation"
that are acceptable to the U.S. government should be piloted on a trial basis
before broader implementation is considered;
Ontario supports the Michigan proposal to develop a secure driver's
licence that meets all of the citizenship and identity documentation
requirements under the WHTI; Travelers aged 16 or under, traveling across the
border with a parent, guardian or designated chaperone who is in possession of
appropriate, secure travel documents, should be permitted to enter and
re-enter the United States using proof of citizenship (such as a birth
certificate) instead of a passport;
Compliance with the WHTI will require considerable lead time and planning
efforts by travelers and industry. Ontario recommends re-consideration of the
implementation date to provide for sufficient phase-in of the policy and to
minimize disruptions to cross-border travel; this would include piloting
implementation of the proposed policy before it is broadly applied to all
border crossings.
Disponible en français
www.tourism.gov.on.ca
www.ontariotravel.net
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For further information: Contacts: David Oved, Minister's Office, (416) 314-1400; Gary Wheeler, Communications Branch, (416) 325-8391
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