Since this came up in discussion with friends...

[teddog]

"The travel initiative requirements will be rolled out in phases. The proposed implementation timeline is as follows:

December 31, 2006 – Passport required for all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

December 31, 2007 – Passport required for all land border crossings, as well as air and sea travel."

and...

"For land border crossings to Canada, other documents that we anticipate will be acceptable are NEXUS and FAST program cards."

Land travel doesn't kick in until 2008. Passports are $87 for two years, I think. NEXUS is about $80 for five years. FAST is NEXUS for truckers. This all feels like a big "Screw You!".

Comments

[slwatson.livejournal.com]

It all IS a big screw-you. It's asinine to start guarding our boarders on the northern side (though not on the southern one). I suppose ole Dubya is worried about pissing off the Mexican government, though, so he figures he has to pick on Canada too.

What a joke.

Come visit.

[commanderteddog.livejournal.com]

The northern side is already guarded by customs. It used to be easy to pass through, but you need a valid birth certificate now; they used to take driver's licenses but stopped and health cards, which are harder than passports to get, can't be used because of some legal loophole.

That being said, even birth certificates are a headache. Mom was born in Quebec and because of the high precentage of Roman Catholic people in the province, they only issued baptism certificates. You try explaining that at the border...

It'll be even more stupid if you still have to pay tolls at the bridge crossings; Rainbow, Peace and Queenston-Lewiston all have tolls for sure and Blue Water and Sault Ste. Marie *I think* do too. I think that NEXUS lets you bypass tolls, but not a passport.

Notice that CANPASS isn't included. It only works at remote border crossings, but people using it are going to be pissed to pay extra; CANPASS is $30 and NEXUS is a lot more.

[slwatson.livejournal.com]

I think we just need a passport here. I mean, when the law kicks in.