McKenna fears U.S. plan for passports

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McKenna fears U.S. plan for passports
Canada’s ambassador… Frank McKenna told the annual meeting of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce yesterday that the U.S. policy requiring passports to enter the United States by Dec. 31, 2007, could spell disaster for Canadian tourism operators…

“It could result in the reduction of 7.7 million visits to Canada (annually), with a loss of almost $2 billion in revenue, mostly tourism revenue from people who won’t cross the border because they can’t return home without a passport or something similar”…

The problem is that not many Americans bother with passports, McKenna said. Canada would lose out on a lot of casual, cross-border traffic in the form of impulse tourists who come here to shop or catch a hockey game.
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So, if the US requires passports to enter our country, then Canada will follow suit and require it back? I do think we should work something out between neighbors, to be sure. It would be sad for Canada to miss out on the tourism. It would be even sadder for people to miss out on visiting the beautiful country to our north.
 
What’s the thinking behind requiring passports? ID is already required, even for US citizens, if I remember correctly. Is it that birth certificates aren’t considered secure enough ID? (not unreasonable, I suppose).

Mike
 
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Fitz:
It would be sad for Canada to miss out on the tourism.
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That cuts both ways. Our border cities and states could also use the revenue generated by Canadian “impulse tourists” crossing the border to our side.
I think that nothing is served by this costly bureaucratic imposition on our citizens, which will only be followed by the same on Canadians.
 
Of course non-North Americans have to have their photos and fingerprints taken at the point of entry now.

While I don’t especially like the concept of having my fingerprints taken, I had to try very hard not to laugh at the camera the immigration guy took my photo with. I expected something vaguely high-tech, instead he got out something that looks like one of those extremely cheap $10 webcams! I suppose it still takes a good enough photo, but given I was expecting some official-looking gadget, this just seemed bizarre.

Mike
 
When I travel, even within the United States, I use my Passport as my main proof of identity. I find it easier than anything else.

PF
 
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WanderAimlessly:
When I travel, even within the United States, I use my Passport as my main proof of identity. I find it easier than anything else.
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Also a bit riskier, no? Lose your driver’s license and you can get it replaced in a day. Lose your passport and it can be a hassle to get replaced, as well as raising the possibility that it got into the hands of some really bad actors after you lost it (or had it stolen).
Just be extra careful, as that document is valuable in a way that a credit card or driver’s license isn’t, in comparison.
 
‘We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.’

‘They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security’

Should always be brought to mind when doing things for security purposes.

Mike
 
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Franze:
The security needs sacrifices.
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so you propose giving up freedom and independance for “homeland security” adolf hitler, you have seen your dream come true…boooo1111 then we can require internal passports to move form one state to another??? achtung! present your papers. then we can have “relocation camps” in utah,arizona, nevada. that would solve the disposal problem.
 
I’d like to see Mexico, the US, and Canada have open borders, a common currency, and common work permits along the lines of the EU.

On the other hand, I would like to see our three countries get really really serious about periphery security. Rather than checking them at the North/South borders, check them when they enter through the periphery.
 
Ani Ibi:
I’d like to see Mexico, the US, and Canada have open borders, a common currency, and common work permits along the lines of the EU.

On the other hand, I would like to see our three countries get really really serious about periphery security. Rather than checking them at the North/South borders, check them when they enter through the periphery.
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Good Idea IMO.
 
Arba Sicula:
I think that nothing is served by this costly bureaucratic imposition on our citizens, which will only be followed by the same on Canadians.
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I really think it does serve a purpose. We need to screen on both our borders. Other countries require it, and we are under attack. Why do you not think it is important?
 
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