Evaluate Position With U.S.

Reading your poll on whether or not to have the Americans present a passport when entering Canada, my first response was “yes.” “If they can do it to us then we should do the same.” Now hold on a minute. Let’s review this for a second. What does this mean?

Washington is forcing anyone entering the USA to have a passport, how does this affect them?

• This will slow down border crossings into the states.
  
• It will force Canadians to obtain passports. That trip to Disney land for you and your family? Just tack on $400 or $500 more to give to Ottawa.
  
• It will limit tourism from Canadians wanting to travel to the USA.
  
• It will put a hurt on cross border shopping.
  
• It will add to the price of goods shipped by road. How many transports cross our unprotected border?
  
• It will cost hundreds of millions for Washington to set up, monitor and control.
  
• It will further damage our fragile trade relationship with our North American neighbors.

Now if Canada were to enforce the same regulations for anyone entering Canada, how does this affect us?

• Slow down border crossings.
  
• Limit tourism from the American public.
  
• Hurt cross border shopping.
  
• Add to the price of goods.
  
• Cost hundreds of millions.
  
• Further damage our fragile trade relationship.

How will this affect the tourism for the 2010 Olympics?

Now I’m just like most Canadians who are fed up with Washington sticking it to us. Canadian fisheries, farmers, lumber producers, livestock, steel mills and other industries have been devastated by decisions made by the Americans politicians. While our government still sends power, water, raw logs, oil, gas and other resources to them at less than market prices. Enough is enough.

Having an open border is very beneficial for both of our countries. I think its time to repair our trade relationship with the states or end it. Maybe it’s time for Paul to go knock on George’s big white door and evaluate our position in this relationship. I believe that Anne McLellan also gave her first response with out real deliberation. She should be entering in negotiations with the states to come to a solution to the problem. Rather then saying, “Look, we can do that too.” Anne McLellan knows how much of a cash grab it will be for Ottawa if we’re forced to obtain passports.

Kris Wallin