Our American cousins want to make the paperwork requirement official in 2005 according to this article:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?V6E2238E5

I say we do the same to them: no passport-no entry, eh!

[This message has been edited by tcook052 (edited 09-15-2003).]

I always carry my passport when going to the US. I find it simplifies the immigration process and avoids a lot of questions.

This will also make the decision to go further south, such as the carribbean or Mexico for many instead of Florida a lot easier.

I believe many countries in the carribbean still only require a birth certificate and ID.

Some of the economic ramifications may be high for some states.

I agree that the same requirement must be implemented by Canada for all Americans before we agree to it.

I always travel with my passport to the US and Mexico, even when crossing by land. I would not even dream of not taking it when going to another country, even if they said it was OK not too (i.e. some Caribbean countries). It is by far the best piece of ID (although teh new AB drivers license is very secure and good looking ) and gives you extra comfort knowing that it identifies you as a Canadian.

I also agree that it should be required of all other foreign nationals coming to Canada too.

[This message has been edited by 7E7 (edited 09-15-2003).]

If you get one of those INS cards its a lot easier to travel to the US.

For all intents and purposes it is in effect. You get 10x as much grief from the friendly inspectors in YYZ if you show up with a BC and DL vs a Passport. God forbid you show up with out the BC (if you don't have a passport ).

True, you pretty much require a passport already. For some reason they're not as strict with ground transportation. I cross all the time without my passport.

US customs at the CDN airports don't seem to stirct if you forget your passport, but Canadian customs on return will automatically send you to immigration if you don't have it.

Thats happened to me a few times - once they asked me to sing O Canada and asked questions like "What's the Bay," guess that proves I'm Canadian, eh?

I would like to see it as an absolute. YYZ is indeed silly.

100% correct. Last three times crossing at Niagara Falls and no one the Canadian side asked for ID. The third time, the guy looked at my Indiana plates, and waved me through without even speaking to me!

Which is, of course, the law right now and the way it should stay.

However, if the U.S. requires it I hope our elected officials reciprocate and make it mandatory at ALL our ports of entry for U.S. citizens.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tcook052:
[B]Our American cousins want to make the paperwork requirement official in 2005

I say we do the same to them: no passport-no entry, eh!

No we want the money tell them they can come here any time skip the passport just bring greenbacks!

Who stands to lose the most in a game of tit-for-tat?

The Americans recently revoked the visa exemption for permanent residents with 'common nationality' with Canada. This had an enormous impact on the South Asian and Carribean communities.

We did not reciprocate by imposing a visa requirement on green card holders. What would it have accomplished? It would have deterred many people from coming to visit Canada, and would have had potential consequences for cross-border business.

In the case of a passport requirement, it should be borne in mind that a large proportion of US citizens do not carry passports. Many of them, confronted by the need to obtain one would say, "well why bother going to Canada, then?"

Ultimately, there is no issue of program integrity that would justify imposing a passport requirement on US citizens (or green card holders, for that matter). Customs officers on the PIL are perfectly capable of evaluating the citizenship of people presenting themselves (and referring questionable cases to Immigration secondary).

And as for those Canadians who can't be bothered obtaining a passport in order to enter the US--well, they'll be more likely to spend their travel dollars at home, won't they?

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Good. Those who are business people will fulfill the necessary requirements. For the rest, this will be a good wake-up call that the vast majority of Canadians don't have a passport either!


[This message has been edited by PunishedEdmontonian (edited 09-15-2003).]

Why is this considered such a big deal? You're going to a foreign country, carry a passport? This seems like more hoopla around the US having the unquestionable right to control how and who crosses their borders. People here in Canada seem to think nothing has changed since 9/11 and scream about any US restrictions. This again talks to "if you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about".