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Enhanced driver's licences grudgingly accepted
Kevin Dougherty, Gazette Quebec Bureau
Published: Tuesday, September 16
BAR HARBOR - While only Quebec and Vermont, among the six New England states and the five eastern Canada provinces are committed to enhanced driver's licences, the governors and premiers, grudgingly, are going along with the requirement.
Starting June 1, 2009, people entering the United States by road or water from Canada will be required to present a passport or an enhanced driver's licence.
Canada's privacy commissioners and and human rights advocates are concerned the EDL, embedded with an RFID - radio frequency identification - chip could lead to human rights and privacy abuses.
The RFID can be read from 10 metres away, and opponents fear it could be used to track dissidents or used to build files, perhaps with erroneous information, on those carrying them.
Some of the governors and premiers at their annual meeting yesterday said they are hoping for a change in Washington after the coming presidential election.
"Yes I am hoping there will be a change, for a whole host of reasons," said Massacusetts Governor Deval Patrick, a supporter of Democratic candidate Barack Obama.
New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham indicated he would like another extension of the deadline.
"Ultimately we're going to receive clarity after the next federal election here in the United States, one way or the other," Graham said.
"We know there are solutions but ultimately we are asking time to get it right."
Canada is not imposing a passport or EDL requirement but the new rule also applies to Americans re-entering their own country from Canada.
"It's going to help us with our population growth strategy," Graham joked. "Because many Americans coming into New Brunswick will just have a hard time getting back home."
Premier Jean Charest said out of prudence, Quebec is going ahead withn the EDL.
"Who knows what will happen?" Charest said. "That's for Americans to decide."
Vermont Governor James Douglas, noting the close ties between his state and Quebec, said there was a need to ease border crossings.
"The pendulum has swung too far in one direction," Douglas said.
"I think everyone understands that we want our borders to be secure, we want people on airlines to be safe, but you can't put in place such impediments that impair free trade and commece and traditional patterns of travel across our border."
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© Montreal Gazette 2008
Kevin Dougherty, Gazette Quebec Bureau
Published: Tuesday, September 16
BAR HARBOR - While only Quebec and Vermont, among the six New England states and the five eastern Canada provinces are committed to enhanced driver's licences, the governors and premiers, grudgingly, are going along with the requirement.
Starting June 1, 2009, people entering the United States by road or water from Canada will be required to present a passport or an enhanced driver's licence.
Canada's privacy commissioners and and human rights advocates are concerned the EDL, embedded with an RFID - radio frequency identification - chip could lead to human rights and privacy abuses.
The RFID can be read from 10 metres away, and opponents fear it could be used to track dissidents or used to build files, perhaps with erroneous information, on those carrying them.
Some of the governors and premiers at their annual meeting yesterday said they are hoping for a change in Washington after the coming presidential election.
"Yes I am hoping there will be a change, for a whole host of reasons," said Massacusetts Governor Deval Patrick, a supporter of Democratic candidate Barack Obama.
New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham indicated he would like another extension of the deadline.
"Ultimately we're going to receive clarity after the next federal election here in the United States, one way or the other," Graham said.
"We know there are solutions but ultimately we are asking time to get it right."
Canada is not imposing a passport or EDL requirement but the new rule also applies to Americans re-entering their own country from Canada.
"It's going to help us with our population growth strategy," Graham joked. "Because many Americans coming into New Brunswick will just have a hard time getting back home."
Premier Jean Charest said out of prudence, Quebec is going ahead withn the EDL.
"Who knows what will happen?" Charest said. "That's for Americans to decide."
Vermont Governor James Douglas, noting the close ties between his state and Quebec, said there was a need to ease border crossings.
"The pendulum has swung too far in one direction," Douglas said.
"I think everyone understands that we want our borders to be secure, we want people on airlines to be safe, but you can't put in place such impediments that impair free trade and commece and traditional patterns of travel across our border."
[email protected]
© Montreal Gazette 2008
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