The Canadian Press
April 2, 2008
Beth Gorham
WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff insisted Tuesday that American officials will be ready next year to demand passports at the Canada-U.S. border despite the misgivings of legislators and businesses.
At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Chertoff said entry points already have machines that can read passports, enhanced driver's licences and a new lower-cost passport card for Americans.
And there will be other devices at most border crossings by next spring that can read documents from a distance to speed up the process, he said.
But committee chairman Senator Patrick Leahy said he's still concerned about whether the technology and training available by then can prevent major disruptions as a result of the so-called Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
"I'm worried about the department's record and how it has handled WHTI," said Leahy, who represents Vermont.
"Let's do it right. Canada is a great country."
"We share a lot of our culture and economy with them. I would like to see more money spent to improve our intelligence on both sides of the border for those who are threats than to lose hundreds of billions of dollars worth of jobs because we do something that may be more symbolic than substantive."
The senator also blasted the department's use of U.S. checkpoints far from the border where vehicles, including those of Canadians, are sometimes searched
"It sounds like Big Brother gone awry," he said.
Leahy, fearing traffic chaos, was one of several legislators who pushed Congress to pass legislation delaying the passport requirement at land and sea crossings until June 2009.
Chertoff has always been reluctant to wait that long but finally signalled last week he was willing to comply.
Leahy's concerns are mirrored by businesses that aren't yet confident travel and trade will flow smoothly.
"I hope Chertoff's right but I have my doubts," said Scotty Greenwood, executive director of the Canadian American Business Council.
"What he's willing to do is have immediate economic dislocation and implement the program before the agency is ready."
Even if a Democrat wins the White House in this fall's election, the plan to require passports is unlikely to change, said Greenwood, although it might buy some more time.
Presidential contender Hillary Clinton, a New York senator, has been vocal about taking the time to get the passport plan right.
The U.S. announced it would stop taking oral declarations of citizenship from people crossing the border in January.
But no one has been turned away yet if they don't have the required birth certificate and a piece of government-issued photo identification.
Even when the full passport rule goes into effect, there will be acceptable alternatives, including high-technology driver's licences.
Washington state has already issued 6,500 special licences after a pilot project with British Columbia and there are orders for another 18,000, said Chertoff.
New York, Vermont, Michigan and Arizona are developing the lower-cost alternatives, as is Ontario.
"It's certainly a convenience and an expense saver," said Chertoff. "We are encouraging other states to do this."
Air travellers entering the United States have needed passports since last year.