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| Subject: border rules pt.2 |
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holding a passport for many is not a big deal - you are right... but adding an extra hour wait at the border for additional checks (no exageration at Peace Arch) is enough to deter the impulsive milk and cheese run across the border. We are no different than Wannabe...we go to the US for the afternoon. We love Macy´s and Target even if we have to pay duty. Americans come for the hockey game or various festivals - without a passport they cannot return to the US.
We are not the ones saying it is a problem - the tourism folks are the ones lighting their hair on fire from both sides of the border. it is going to cost millions. The cruise ship industry to Alaska just dried up in Vancouver because tourists don´t want to book cruises that require a passport. I am not BSing. The majority of Americans do not hold a passport - and will give up the Canada trip to avoid the hassle. It is a fact.
I realize Bush was president when the rule was made... but he is the guy that said he knew nothing about it so either he has a short memory, or he is far too reliant on his staff or he is ????
I am sure we will all get used to it
[01-06-2009,20:18]
[***.20.116.15]
Sharon |
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(in reply to: border rules pt.2)
Also, It can be a big deal for some families..the US passport costs 100 USD..If a family of five visiting Canada (Mom and dad + three kids)..they all need passports..5 x 100 = 500 USD. Do you think any family (in average) can afford paying 500 USD just to make one or two day trip to Canada? I believe that toursim in Canada will be affected to an extent much worse than US..
[01-06-2009,21:01]
[**.115.77.146]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: border rules pt.2)
Wannabe
R U saying CBC, The Star and all other media outlets who claimed the former President of the United States admitted he did not know about the passport issue, LIED?
or
R U saying George W. Bush LIED?
Can´t be both ways.
What about the Americans not allowed back in when they really enforce the same. Hey a guy has been living in Canada and his Mother dies and at the airport they say prove your an American. He shows his old drivers license and DENIED.
You seem to think that only Canadian´s shop at Target what about all the people coming to Toronto every weekend to see a play equal to NYC or London. or some POP star that would never go within three hundred MILES of Buffalo.
R U saying in the future Wannabe that the US Border Agents can enforce the Law for short people and let the tall people in without a passport?
Today in the papers there was plenty of articles about them turning a blind eye to all American people without a passport because there were so many they would of had to refuse entry.
Focus on the big picture when the NFL Buffalo Bills come to Toronto next. Any chance of a Tail Gate party on the Peace Bridge.
Toronto, Hamilton, Mississauga and for that matter most of Canada resides in the Golden Horseshoe not NB where one can walk across the border and never get caught. Swimming Lake Ontario or Erie or for that matter the Niagara River is a little more difficult. Most of the GTA depends on US visitors and Buffalo area as well vice versa. One Cuban Cigar salesman in Niagara Falls thinks he will close due to the passport issue.
Why are you applying for a US passport? So I can get some Cuban Cigars in Ontario!!!!
The trucking industry knew it was happening but for Joe Public who goes over once or twice a year it is a major headache on citizens on both sides of the border.
No need for this passport mess because a Canadian terrorist can visit you in NB for a cup of tea and walk across undetected to the States.
Stop looking at an issue from your current village.
The GTA is hurt and so is upstate NY, Ohio, Michigan and Penn.
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[01-06-2009,21:37]
[**.15.48.61]
Roy |
(in reply to: border rules pt.2)
new rules apply for Mexico and Burmuda as well. Everything I am ready suggests they are equally freaked out about the impact. They figure it will take 2 years for people to get used to the new rules.
[01-06-2009,21:43]
[***.20.116.15]
Sharon |
(in reply to: border rules pt.2)
Roy, please, I am not looking at this from my "village" as you like to say. I have crossed the Windsor/Detroit bridge (and tunnel) and at Niagara Falls more times than your average Canadian and I am perfectly aware of the lines and wait times and also of the reasons people cross. Cuban cigars happen to be illegal to bring back to the US, so if fewer cross the border I don´t feel too badly.
I point out what the situation is here because not all Canadians live in Vancouver or the GTA. One tenth of the country´s population lives in the Atlantic provinces, the 4 of which make up a full 1/4 the number of total Canadian provinces. I can see why the residents who are invested in living here get defensive when they are dismissed by the rest of the country.
Roy, you know I am a reasonable person and I am only offering up another viewpoint to the situation. I am not saying it won´t affect anything, but we should be able to be reasonable.
BTW: You can´t swim across Lake Erie as it is, you know, without having ID as soon as the lake guards stop you mid-swim when you cross the invisible line. International waters have been closely guarded for a long, long time. And as for Bush lying: what a shocking idea! ;)
[02-06-2009,06:44]
[**.252.115.196]
wannabecanadian |
(in reply to: border rules pt.2)
i´m trying to understand why people are upset?
is it about the division...identity issue? or is it about commerce?
if it is about identity and dividing north america then it´s pretty normal. americans are americans and canadians are canadians, people just have to accept it and they should have seen it coming anyways.
if it´s about commerce, then business owners have the right to worry about the future of their business, and this should be a wake up call for canadians to rely less on the u.s.
[02-06-2009,11:21]
[**.226.193.39]
El |
(in reply to: border rules pt.2)
We can´t compare our borders with Europe. We have two completely different mindsets.
Just wait until the S####t hits the fan in Europe and you will see some changes in their border crossing policies.
It is just matter of time.
Yeah, people will take 1 or 2 years to get used to the idea of getting a passport. Same thing happened (I think) 6 years ago when a passport was mandatory for air travelers from and to Canada to the US.
I realize that most americans don´t have a passport, but most them don´t know where Iowa is either so....
They will have to get one if they want to leave home.
Cheers,
Bill
[02-06-2009,11:54]
[***.75.247.138]
Bill |
(in reply to: border rules pt.2)
EI, it is about both!
I think many are just angry that they have to give something up that has been very precious through no fault of their own. Freedom of movement has been an accepted part of our lives since the country was formed. For those who have not lived along the border all their lives cannot really appreciate why this should be such a burning issue - but it is. We will have to change our habits, our relationships, and we will be treated as strangers in each other´s countries.
[02-06-2009,12:24]
[***.20.116.15]
Sharon |
(in reply to: border rules pt.2)
I must have to agree with Mr. EI´s last comment, wake up call....
We have to keep in mind that this rule doesn´t apply only for the Canadians, for the Americans as well. So, question of division is not valid.
Is it good or bad? Certainly not good. Bad news for the business owners on both sides. I remember 6 years back when US stopped no consular visa for the Canadian PRs born in the commonwealth countries some northen states of the US reacted becasue they would lose business.
What I understand from the Canadian perspective is, it is more like a feeling of insult rather than carrying or managing passports.
Like Bill said, European free nations and US/Canada aren´t the same and world is always changing. Most of the time innocents have to suffer for nothing.
Just for your little peace of mind; from my country of birth the process to get the US consular visa:
1. Pay 200$.
2. Fill up the form and wait for the clearance check, that takes most of time from 6-12 months.
3. Face the gruelling interview. Passing rate is most likely less than 1%. There is an incident where a guy felt so insulted that he had an cardiac arrest at the embassy and later passed away in the hospital.
Don´t you think that you are very lucky just becasue of your Canadian nationality? All countries have the right to set their rule.
[02-06-2009,12:40]
[***.13.12.94]
DC_RC |
(in reply to: border rules pt.2)
The issue as most Canadian´s see this new law is an insult to their Neighbor´s, their largest trading partner, biggest supplier of energy etc. etc.
Most of all it is not how you treat a friend!
The American´s have messed up their Immigration policy for decades and have millions of illegals so pick on Canada. Not fair.
Both countries need free trade and free movement not less free trade and more restrictive movement.
Ontario depends on this for employment and it is affecting the economy. When it stops people from putting food on their families tables it is personal. In Ontario the movement is more North then South.
Certain areas like the east coast the movement in basically south to the States for shopping at Target or other stores because like Wannabe said the selection is better. The Maritime provinces have a huge tourism economy that will be hurt as well.
Roy
www.cvimmigration.com
[02-06-2009,13:00]
[**.71.41.184]
Roy |
(in reply to: border rules pt.2)
I have to disagree that Europe is somehow different. Last I checked they were nations like any other, with a long history of border disputes and conflicts. If countries with such diverse cultures and traditions can cooperate in eliminating passport controls, why can´t we?
I just don´t get why many of us are so accepting or even enthusuastic about having to take passports every time, then wait in longer lines to cross to the other side.
[02-06-2009,13:06]
[***.130.12.0]
Richard |
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