Home \|\| About KDR \|\| Weekly Feature Archive
Bush stands firm on passports for Canadians CBC News \|\| April 03, 2006 Related - Canadians to need ID card, Stockwell Day says U.S. President George W. Bush won't change tough new identification requirements for Canadians entering the United States, but says he hopes new technologies can provide an efficient way to deal with the issue. Bush made the comments as he, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Vicente Fox spoke Friday during the closing news conference of a two-day trilateral summit in Cancun. Harper said he and Bush have agreed that Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will make the contentious travel issue their top priority. "We're obviously concerned that if we don't move quickly, properly, on this, that this could have effects on trade and movement of people, conventions, you name it," said Harper. "That is not helpful to our economy or our relationship." In 2007, Canadians will be barred from entering the United States unless they have a passport or a U.S.-issued border-crossing card. The so-called "laser visas" include biometric identifiers such as fingerprints or retinal scans. Bush, who called Harper a "straightforward fellow," acknowledged Canada's concern that the new identification requirement could hamper trade and travel. "Your prime minister made it very clear to me that he's very worried [the law] will make it less likely that people will want to travel between our countries," said Bush. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com The U.S. president said he is committed to implementing the law as passed by Congress, but he hopes technology can create a single card that would meet the requirement. "I believe this can be done in such a way to make future travel stronger not weaker," Bush said. Avian flu, energy on agenda The three leaders said they discussed a number of issues during the summit, including border security, trade and energy. All three leaders said they were working together on a strategy for the expected arrival of avian flu in North America this year. They also promised their countries would work closely to develop alternative sources of energy. Harper said the next trilateral summit would be held in Canada in June 2007. Harper held his first meeting with Bush Thursday in Mexico after the three toured the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. The prime minister said he received a commitment from Bush to resume talks on the long-simmering dispute over softwood lumber. Canada is demanding that the U.S. repay $5 billion in tariffs collected on imports of Canadian softwood lumber. Washington believes Ottawa subsidizes Canada's forestry industry, and says its tariffs are justified. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
In Depth What Is Wrong With Canada Recent 9-11 News Suppressed by the Media The Number 1 Reason YOU became a Slave Knowledge Driven Look at Your Favourite Canadian Political Parties
Archive February March April 2006 26 27 28 29 30 31 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 01 02 03 04 05 06 Weekly Features

Home || About KDR || Weekly Feature Archive

Bush stands firm on passports for Canadians

CBC News || April 03, 2006

Related - Canadians to need ID card, Stockwell Day says

U.S. President George W. Bush won't change tough new identification requirements for Canadians entering the United States, but says he hopes new technologies can provide an efficient way to deal with the issue.

Bush made the comments as he, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Vicente Fox spoke Friday during the closing news conference of a two-day trilateral summit in Cancun.

Harper said he and Bush have agreed that Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will make the contentious travel issue their top priority.

"We're obviously concerned that if we don't move quickly, properly, on this, that this could have effects on trade and movement of people, conventions, you name it," said Harper.

"That is not helpful to our economy or our relationship."

In 2007, Canadians will be barred from entering the United States unless they have a passport or a U.S.-issued border-crossing card. The so-called "laser visas" include biometric identifiers such as fingerprints or retinal scans.

Bush, who called Harper a "straightforward fellow," acknowledged Canada's concern that the new identification requirement could hamper trade and travel.

"Your prime minister made it very clear to me that he's very worried [the law] will make it less likely that people will want to travel between our countries," said Bush.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

The U.S. president said he is committed to implementing the law as passed by Congress, but he hopes technology can create a single card that would meet the requirement.

"I believe this can be done in such a way to make future travel stronger not weaker," Bush said.

Avian flu, energy on agenda

The three leaders said they discussed a number of issues during the summit, including border security, trade and energy.

All three leaders said they were working together on a strategy for the expected arrival of avian flu in North America this year.

They also promised their countries would work closely to develop alternative sources of energy.

Harper said the next trilateral summit would be held in Canada in June 2007.

Harper held his first meeting with Bush Thursday in Mexico after the three toured the ancient Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza.

The prime minister said he received a commitment from Bush to resume talks on the long-simmering dispute over softwood lumber.

Canada is demanding that the U.S. repay $5 billion in tariffs collected on imports of Canadian softwood lumber.

Washington believes Ottawa subsidizes Canada's forestry industry, and says its tariffs are justified.