Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Local News


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published February 16, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified February 16, 2007 at 7:21 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Consul: Easy trek to Canada is over for tourists

State and local officials and businesspeople on the northern border would be well-advised to stop fighting the eventual imposition of tougher...

BELLINGHAM — State and local officials and businesspeople on the northern border would be well-advised to stop fighting the eventual imposition of tougher documentation requirements for cross-border trade and tourism, U.S. Consul General Lewis Lukens said Thursday.

Lukens was a speaker at a conference on border mobility issues, organized by the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University.

He suggested that people need to get used to the reality that the days of relatively carefree crossings at the U.S.-Canada border are over.

"We've been spoiled, there's no doubt about it," Lukens said.

Lukens, stationed in Vancouver, B.C., noted that the Department of Homeland Security is already enforcing a passport requirement for travelers entering or re-entering the U.S. by air from Canada and Mexico. He said the imposition of that new requirement last month occurred smoothly, without significant disruptions.

He argued that despite the skepticism from many along the border, that requirement can be imposed with similar success at land border crossings — and it will be, as mandated by federal law under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, or WHTI.

As of now, the WHTI requires that everyone crossing the Canadian border into the U.S. will be required to have a passport or a still-to-be-developed passport card by June 1, 2009, at the latest — although Homeland Security officials say they may be able to lay the technical groundwork necessary to impose the requirement sooner.

But government and business leaders on both sides of the border fear that such requirements will hamper border trade and tourism. About 3.5 million cars and 600,000 trucks enter the U.S. at Whatcom County border crossings each year, and those numbers already have been beaten down by tighter security measures put in place in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks.

Peter Lloyd, consul general of Canada, warned that ill-advised security measures could cause what he termed a "thickening" of the border that would do economic harm to both countries.

"The consequences of not getting it right will be severe for both countries," Lloyd said. "Our shared history and friendship is not something that can be taken for granted."

But Lukens said he rejected the idea that the U.S. wants to thicken its border. "What I prefer is modernizing the border," he said.

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company

More Local News headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Seattle Center, schools reach pact to tear down Memorial Stadium

Danny Westneat: Red-light tickets veer off course

County executive sworn in, lays out agenda for first 100 days

Teenage pimp convicted of human trafficking

Address of deputy accused of assault found in Monfort home, sources say

Advertising

Video

New Beginnings Christian Fellowship
Coming in this Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine: Pastor Braxton's mission is to preach a message that appeals to everyone.

PNW Magazine | Easy As Pie
Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle

Marketplace

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

nwautos

Less is more: Group rides, good gas mileage have led to a scooter swarm in Seattlenew
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising