Passport date change still uncertain

Ken Johnston

There has been some confusion about the passport issue.
Two weeks ago the Record reported that the January 1, 2007 implementation date requiring all US and Canadians to carry a passport or another form of acceptable Identification to enter the US had been delayed for 18 months to June of 2009.
Doug Reynolds, Executive Director of the Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters said there has been a great deal of confusion in Canada. “Perhaps it is from a lack of understanding of the US political system.”
While the US Senate has passed an amendment to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) to delay implementation of the passport plan 18 months. However, Reynolds said WHTI was passed and in order for a delay to be implemented the US Congress also will have to pass the amendment and then the President will have to sign it. So the delay has two hurdles to cross.
Reynolds said that to be safe it would not hurt for people to get their passports. However, efforts are underway to try and come up with other alternative forms of ID before WHTI kicks in, no matter what the date.
Michigan and Ontario have been working on a pilot project to try and use an alternative ID at the border. However, Reynolds said that Homeland Security is blocking the efforts which would require the state and province to have access to federal databases for the project to work. “This is really complicated and political,” said Reynolds.
Another big stumbling block for Canadian lobby groups has been the perception by American Citizens that Canada is the one forcing them to carry passports. “Many think that and we are having to educate them that it is in fact their own government.”
Reynolds said work continues on several fronts and while things are moving, he is cautiously optimistic about things changing drastically. “There is not enough reason not to get a passport.”