U.S. border cards the wrong answer

Tue, 2006-03-07 00:00

News Release
Min. of Tourism

The “PASS” travel document recently proposed by the U.S., would reduce tourism and unnecessarily damage the Canadian and American economies, Ontario Tourism Minister Jim Bradley told the Binational Tourism Alliance Conference here today.
“We must seek ways to secure the border while maintaining as much as possible the free flow of two-way traffic that sustains our mutual prosperity and our remarkable friendship,” Bradley said.
“Rather than create a new kind of identification, we are convinced it is better to upgrade an existing, commonly carried piece of identification - such as a driver’s licence - with new security features and a citizenship designation,” he added.
Bradley called the recent switch from requiring a passport for American citizens re-entering the United States from Canada, to requiring a new special travel document called a PASS card “a first down, not a touchdown, for those of us seeking to protect a free-flowing border.”
Any special travel document requirement would cause economic damage in the states along the Canadian border. It would reduce attendance at professional sport events and would hurt restaurants, shopping malls, tourist attractions and amateur sporting tournaments on both sides of the border. Winter tourist meccas such as Florida, Arizona and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina would also suffer losses of Canadian “snowbird” revenues.
The tourism stakes are high. In 2004, Ontario welcomed more than 21 million U.S. visitors, who collectively spent US $3.3 billion. The United States also benefited financially from the 18 million Ontario tourists who spent more than US$4.3 billion there in 2004.
Bradley recommended the establishment of a binational working group to consider alternate proposals to the PASS security card.
“We are working with elected officials and industry leaders from both sides of the border to determine if the situation can be further improved,” said Bradley. “I am optimistic that we can find a solution that provides a secure border and still encourages the free flow of traffic that Canadians and Americans currently enjoy.”

Disponible en français

www.tourism.gov.on.ca
www.ontariotravel.net

For further information: Contacts: David Oved, Minister’s Office,
(416) 314-1400; Gary Wheeler, Communications Branch, (416) 325-8391

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U.S. border cards the wrong answer