U.S. security chief stands firm on border cards

Updated Wed. Apr. 19 2006 12:57 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

There is little chance Canadian travellers will get a reprieve from a law requiring them to present secure identity cards at American border crossings, says U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

Chertoff and Canada's Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day talks in Washington on Tuesday on the issue of secure documents for Canadian and U.S. citizens who wish to visit each others' countries.

The Jan. 1, 2008 deadline is one that both the United States and Canada can meet, Chertoff said.

The U.S. Congress has already passed a law that will require anyone entering the U.S. to produce documents that prove their identity and citizenship.

"We have to work with the law as it currently exists,'' Chertoff said.

Only about 22 per cent of Americans hold passports, compared with about half of Canadians. A new identity card, meanwhile, is still being developed for U.S. citizens.

Canada is the United States' largest trading partner, conducting an estimated $1.5 billion US in daily business. And trade and tourism officials on both sides of the border are criticizing the U.S. measure, claiming it will hurt travel and cost the economy billions.

While Canada has objected to the measure, Day said at a joint news conference with Chertoff that it would be irresponsible not to prepare for its implementation.

The minister added, however, that Canada will be watching to see whether the U.S. will be ready.

"Obviously I raised concerns, some of the same questions that you raised, in terms of -- is it feasible? Those are concerns of interest, those are concerns neighbours raise because they might be concerned about what their neighbour is doing.''

When asked if the U.S. would be really be ready with enough manpower and the technology required to handle stricter inspections by the deadline, Chertoff said:
"It seems to me way premature to raise the flag of defeat when I think we have ample precedent and ample ability to meet the deadline."

The first phase of the U.S. law will be implemented on Dec. 31, 2006. It will require all people travelling by air or sea to carry passports or secure identification cards when travelling to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

The second phase, set for implementation by Dec. 31, 2007, will extend the requirement to all U.S. air, sea and land border crossings.

In response to concerns over paying the $97 US cost of a passport, the U.S. administration is proposing a cheaper alternative for its citizens -- a PASS card -- that would cost about $50 US.

Day said Canada isn't considering a similar document for its citizens, and would continue to require I.D. cards such as driver's licences and birth certificates from Americans crossing the border into this country.

With files from The Canadian Press