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| Subject: New border rules create 'invisible Berlin Wall' |
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I wasn´t crazy comparing the "new" border with the cold war, after all:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/05/31/border-rules.html
New U.S. rules on cross-border travel that take effect Monday represent a "heightened militarization" that will hurt the traditionally close relationship between border communities, the mayor of Sarnia, Ont., said Sunday.
"That longest and friendliest border in the world is now an invisible Berlin Wall," Mike Bradley told CBC News, responding to the new requirement that travellers carry a secure document to enter the U.S. by land. It is the latest in a series of security measures implemented since the terror attacks on New York and Washington D.C. on Sept. 11, 2001.
The border city mayor predicted a "dramatic" decrease in traffic flowing between the two countries — that Americans won´t spend the money on documents now needed for a single-day trip.
Bradley said border security has already been significantly beefed up.
"[There are] helicopters by the hour, heightened security. The Americans increased spending by $2 billion last year alone just to patrol the border.
"We now have huge surveillance cameras going in across from Sarnia and all the way down the St. Clair River to Windsor, that will keep track of Canadians on the Canadian side of the border," he said.
Starting at 12:01 a.m. Monday, both Canadian and U.S. citizens will need a passport or equivalent new identification for border crossings.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, an anti-terrorism policy passed by Congress in 2004, requires travellers 16 and older who are entering the United States from Canada by land or sea to carry one of the following:
* Passport.
* NEXUS card.
* Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card.
* Enhanced driver´s licence (EDL) or an enhanced identification card (EIC) from a province where a U.S.-approved EDL/EIC program has been implemented.
* Secure Certificate of Indian Status (when this certificate is available and approved by the United States).
Canadian citizens 18 years of age or under who are travelling with a school or other organized group, under adult supervision with parental/guardian consent, may present proof of Canadian citizenship alone.
Border towns like Niagara Falls, Ont., are getting ready for what´s normally a busy tourist season. But it seems some Americans feel the steep price of coming to Canada isn´t worth it.
"We don´t have a passport and it´s like $100 to get one, as I understand, and so we decided to go for one last time," said a man from the U.S. who was visiting Niagara Falls, Ont., on Saturday.
Niagara Falls Tourism chairman Wayne Thomson, who promotes business on the Canadian side, worries the price of passports may be too much, especially for American day trippers.
Few Americans have passports
"The concern is over people who may not have the financial resources and don´t have passports but would like to slip across the border and go to Marineland for the day with their family and go back at night," he said.
It´s estimated 41 per cent of Canadians have a passport, but only about 20 per cent of Americans have one.
The Anchor Bar in Buffalo, N.Y., has always been a favourite hangout for locals and Canadians. Ivano Toscani, its host and executive chef, is hoping the Canadians will still show up after the border rules go into effect.
"Being so close to Canada, I know that we do have a lot of Canadian friends coming over here all the time, especially when we have a football game going on," he said.
Brief grace period
Americans returning home will also have to present one of the newly required documents proving their identification and citizenship. However, Chief Ron Smith of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Detroit said his department plans to give unaware travellers a break for an unspecified period.
Smith told the Observer newspaper in Sarnia, Ont., that people who don’t have the right documents will be given a written notice explaining the new rules and sent on their way.
An official with the U.S. Border Protection agency told CBC News its border guards will be lenient with people who forget their passports at first, but "not for long."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Jayson P. Ahern is quoted on the agency´s website saying that agents "will be practical and flexible in implementing [the new rules] using the same informed compliance approach that proved successful during other major changes at our borders over the last two years.
[31-05-2009,23:36]
[**.192.28.31]
Richard |
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(in reply to: New border rules create 'invisible Berlin Wall')
I don´t have the exact statistics but I read that a decent number of Canadians have passports but the same is not true for US citizens. I recall it almost been a reversed percentage.
[01-06-2009,00:53]
[***.20.116.15]
Sharon |
(in reply to: New border rules create 'invisible Berlin Wall')
watched the news tonight... ´start thinking of the US or Canada as a foreign country´ while that may seem odd to many, that is probably why this issue has struck such a nerve with folks. we have never considered each other as foreign countries. We have been realtives.
75% of Americans do not have passports. that is the number that was reported tonight.
now, here is the tidbit that blew my mind. Bush and Clinton were in Toronto for some sort of joint speaking engagement. NEITHER of them new anything about the new rules. This is an american initiative. if the past 2 presidents knew nothing about it...
[01-06-2009,02:21]
[***.20.116.15]
Sharon |
(in reply to: New border rules create 'invisible Berlin Wall')
Bush and Clinton didn´t even know about the new passport regulation.
Oh my God Bush could be stuck in Canada!
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/05/29/clinton-bush-conversation-toronto.html
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[01-06-2009,07:32]
[**.15.48.61]
Roy |
(in reply to: New border rules create 'invisible Berlin Wall')
They failed to look at the professional sports teams located on the border that need cross border fans to survive!
The Red Wings would have too few fans to make any noise if the Windsor area folks all needed passports.
The Buffalo Bills are almost bankrupt now!!!! Where are they going to get some more Fans! I forgot they play some games in Toronto, NOW!
Buffalo has a Hockey team? Whoops Toronto is going to get it!
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[01-06-2009,07:53]
[**.15.48.61]
Roy |
(in reply to: New border rules create 'invisible Berlin Wall')
I was in Sarnia (source of quote and article) last year, in considering as a place to relocate. Chatted with some Sarnia picnickers and strollers along the shores of the St. Clair River on a nice Sunday summer afternoon, directly across from Port Huron on the U.S. side.
The Sarnia residents had nothing but positive things to say about their Port Huron sister city and citizens. Some described the fun of the annual competitive swimming races with Port Huronites on the St. Clair river, which has now become a formal international dividing line.
I don´t see any use in creating divisions like this between two relatives, as Sharon aptly said. And to Roy, please keep Bush, we´ve had enough of him down here for too many years!
[01-06-2009,11:10]
[**.192.28.31]
Richard |
(in reply to: New border rules create 'invisible Berlin Wall')
C´mon Roy: this is a Bush era ruling; of course he "knows about it".
Look, an enormous portion of the population where I live, one hour from the US border, regularly (weekly) crosses over to the States just to buy groceries. The IGA in the border town (US side)caters to the Canadians: they advertise online their weekly specials (and the following week too, so you can plan), the dollar conversion, and the fact that they accept Canadian debit cards. They even have a link to the Canadians customs agency so Canadian customers can be sure to not buy over their limit of goods such as alcohol, dairy and meat. Nobody here blinks an eye at spending the time driving down and crossing over because financially it is worth it. Grocery bills are 30-50% lower on the US side so even a wait in line at the border is well worth it. Plus, the selection is better and I know lots of people here who go down regularly for the junk food selection alone, never mind the half price milk and cheese.
That´s just groceries. In our area, we have virtually no shopping available, so everyone I know drives the 3 hours down to Bangor several times a year to stock up on clothing and other essentials. The parking lots at the mall and at Target are full of NB, NS and PEI plates. Again, not only is the cost savings impressive, but the selection difference is unbelievable.
Do you really think that a passport regulation is going to get in the way of such important commerce? I honestly do not.
Here in New Brunswick, we have an island community which must cross the border to the US before they can again enter the mainland of their own province. There is a concern about the passport law primarily because in order to re-apply, one must relinquish the current passport while waiting for the new to be processed. People there are wondering how they will get to work (some work in Maine) or how they will get to the mainland to do necessary errands such as banking (there is no bank on the island). However, the community realizes that the US isn´t interested in keeping Canadian citizens out, and it is the recent fact that the last banking branch on the island closed that is the most pressing concern.
US customs officers have in their legal authority to use their discretion whether or not to allow someone to pass across the border. This was true before today and remains true now. They have no interest in keeping their own citizens or Canadian citizens out of the country; it is only a heightened security measure and simplifying tool. We´re planning a cross border trip in the next couple of weeks and I look forward to an unchanged experience.
[01-06-2009,17:08]
[**.252.115.196]
wannabecanadian |
(in reply to: New border rules create 'invisible Berlin Wall')
don´t panic, it´ll be ok after few weeks. canadian $$$ will stay in canada. most canadians have police record and i think they can´t get PP.
[01-06-2009,17:39]
[***.90.144.15]
windsor |
(in reply to: New border rules create 'invisible Berlin Wall')
So what is the big deal?
It is just a passport, if someone can´t afford to pay for the passport fees, they shouldn´t be traveling in the first place.
Maybe it is just me....but I mean.... it is just a passport they are valid for 5 years, it is not that they are valid for one trip only.
I just shake my head when I watch the news and I see people´s reaction..... I mean........ the US is asking for a passport to travel to and from a foreing country.
Again... what´s the big deal?
Cheers,
Bill
[01-06-2009,18:01]
[***.75.247.138]
Bill |
(in reply to: New border rules create 'invisible Berlin Wall')
I couldn´t agree with you more, Bill. I just don´t get it either.
[01-06-2009,18:38]
[**.252.115.196]
wannabecanadian |
(in reply to: New border rules create 'invisible Berlin Wall')
Well then, the mayor of Sarnia and a lot of other Canadians see it differently. I also shake my head, but for a different reason. Why is it that the Europeans have been able to eliminate passport controls between their borders, but two of the closest allies in the world are tightening theirs? Maybe the Europeans ought to drop their unenlightened errant ways, and go back to the good old days of passport checks.
I think it comes down to how one sees the world. Are we all citizens of the same planet, or a series of villages where we eye each other suspiciously and set up more road blocks between each other?
Just like on the Iraq war, people hard wired one way or the other on this issue. The tribal instinct is still pretty much with us.
[01-06-2009,19:10]
[**.192.28.31]
Richard |
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