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Border ID cards coming, PM says BRIAN LAGHI - Globe and Mail \|\| April 12, 2006 [KDR: I hope everyone likes the idea of being tagged and tracked like cattle. This will soon expand into a national ID card according to Stockwell Day. Enjoy the slave state.] Related - Implanting Subdermal RFID in Practice Related - Living in a Microchip Society CANCUN, MEXICO -- Canadians must bow to the inevitability of a new national-identity card for cross-border travel and they risk paying an economic price if the deadlines for its implementation are missed, Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned yesterday. The Prime Minister made the remarks after U.S. President George W. Bush reiterated his country's intention to go ahead with the plan, which will require citizens of both countries to carry either a passport or a new high-tech card to get into each other's country. The two men were in this resort to take part in a three-way meeting with Mexican President Vicente Fox on North American security and economic issues. "We're obviously concerned that if we don't move quickly and properly on this, that this could have effects on trade and movement of people, conventions, you name it, that is not helpful to our economy or to our relationship," Mr. Harper said. Mr. Harper and Mr. Bush told their cabinet members responsible for the issue to meet and make the matter a top priority. People crossing the Canada-U.S. border by sea or air will have to get the card by the new year, while ground travellers won't be affected until one year later. People with passports won't need the card. The Prime Minister said time is running short to put the initiative in place. "What we've got to start to put emphasis on is how we're actually going to resolve this problem because we're running out of time," he said. "It is an American law. I don't think there's any prospect of Congress changing that law." Mr. Bush was clear that there's no going back on the plan. "Congress passed the law, and I intend to enforce the law," he said. The card could potentially make travel between the two countries easier if it speeds up border crossings, he added. "I understand this issue has caused some consternation and your Prime Minister has made it very clear to me that he's very worried that such an implementation of the law on the books will make it less likely that people will want to travel between our two countries," he said. "I believe this can be done in such a way that it makes future such relationships stronger, not weaker." Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com Mr. Harper said in an interview with CBC Newsworld that he expects to meet Mr. Bush in Washington this spring, probably in June, and that he might get an update on this "passport problem" then. The move has created deep concern in the Canadian tourism industry because forcing people to get the card or a passport may be a disincentive for travelling to Canada. Canadians who are accustomed to travelling over the border for shopping day trips or other quick excursions will also be inconvenienced. The three men spent much of their time discussing how to move forward with the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, a project aimed at providing more secure borders, eliminating red tape on trading issues and creating more co-operation in areas such as the environment. Mr. Harper said he invited the leaders of the United States and Mexico to join him in Canada a year from now to continue the dialogue. The three men also announced initiatives to co-operate in the event of a bird-flu outbreak and the establishment of a North American Competitiveness Council. The council will comprise representatives of business and the three governments and will have a say in targeting projects and ideas aimed at creating a more creative market environment. "Our three countries are facing unprecedented competition from large developing economies such as China and India," said Thomas d'Aquino, president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. "A positive and constructive tone at the top is essential if our three countries are to move forward in defining a new and stronger North America." One business leader who joined in a meeting with the three leaders over the new council said she feels considerable urgency among governments to get at the smart-card issue. "I don't know the technicalities of it, but I do know that the intent of governments are to get together and come up with something that is technologically easy," said Annette Verschuren, president of Home Depot Canada. "We just don't want to slow down the movement of products and people." Later, the Prime Minister told reporters that Mr. Bush, too, is concerned about the issue, particularly over what documents would be used to establish a person's bona fides before getting a card. He also said he wouldn't discourage businesses from expressing their concerns to the United States. This week was the first face-to-face meeting between Mr. Harper and Mr. Bush as leaders. The two men agreed to tell their officials to find ways to kick-start talks to resolve the softwood lumber dispute. However, Mr. Harper said his government will continue to pursue legal avenues and subsidize the Canadian industry if success isn't forthcoming. At one point yesterday, Mr. Bush complimented Mr. Harper on his directness, a characterization with which the Canadian Prime Minister didn't disagree. "I don't discuss private conversations, but some of you may know that sometimes I express myself, believe it or not, not only directly but colourfully and not suited for public television." 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Border ID cards coming, PM says

BRIAN LAGHI - Globe and Mail || April 12, 2006

[KDR: I hope everyone likes the idea of being tagged and tracked like cattle. This will soon expand into a national ID card according to Stockwell Day. Enjoy the slave state.]

Related - Implanting Subdermal RFID in Practice

Related - Living in a Microchip Society

CANCUN, MEXICO -- Canadians must bow to the inevitability of a new national-identity card for cross-border travel and they risk paying an economic price if the deadlines for its implementation are missed, Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned yesterday.

The Prime Minister made the remarks after U.S. President George W. Bush reiterated his country's intention to go ahead with the plan, which will require citizens of both countries to carry either a passport or a new high-tech card to get into each other's country. The two men were in this resort to take part in a three-way meeting with Mexican President Vicente Fox on North American security and economic issues.

"We're obviously concerned that if we don't move quickly and properly on this, that this could have effects on trade and movement of people, conventions, you name it, that is not helpful to our economy or to our relationship," Mr. Harper said.

Mr. Harper and Mr. Bush told their cabinet members responsible for the issue to meet and make the matter a top priority. People crossing the Canada-U.S. border by sea or air will have to get the card by the new year, while ground travellers won't be affected until one year later. People with passports won't need the card.

The Prime Minister said time is running short to put the initiative in place.

"What we've got to start to put emphasis on is how we're actually going to resolve this problem because we're running out of time," he said. "It is an American law. I don't think there's any prospect of Congress changing that law."

Mr. Bush was clear that there's no going back on the plan.

"Congress passed the law, and I intend to enforce the law," he said. The card could potentially make travel between the two countries easier if it speeds up border crossings, he added.

"I understand this issue has caused some consternation and your Prime Minister has made it very clear to me that he's very worried that such an implementation of the law on the books will make it less likely that people will want to travel between our two countries," he said. "I believe this can be done in such a way that it makes future such relationships stronger, not weaker."

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

Mr. Harper said in an interview with CBC Newsworld that he expects to meet Mr. Bush in Washington this spring, probably in June, and that he might get an update on this "passport problem" then.

The move has created deep concern in the Canadian tourism industry because forcing people to get the card or a passport may be a disincentive for travelling to Canada. Canadians who are accustomed to travelling over the border for shopping day trips or other quick excursions will also be inconvenienced.

The three men spent much of their time discussing how to move forward with the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, a project aimed at providing more secure borders, eliminating red tape on trading issues and creating more co-operation in areas such as the environment.

Mr. Harper said he invited the leaders of the United States and Mexico to join him in Canada a year from now to continue the dialogue.

The three men also announced initiatives to co-operate in the event of a bird-flu outbreak and the establishment of a North American Competitiveness Council. The council will comprise representatives of business and the three governments and will have a say in targeting projects and ideas aimed at creating a more creative market environment. Cattle Tags

"Our three countries are facing unprecedented competition from large developing economies such as China and India," said Thomas d'Aquino, president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. "A positive and constructive tone at the top is essential if our three countries are to move forward in defining a new and stronger North America."

One business leader who joined in a meeting with the three leaders over the new council said she feels considerable urgency among governments to get at the smart-card issue.

"I don't know the technicalities of it, but I do know that the intent of governments are to get together and come up with something that is technologically easy," said Annette Verschuren, president of Home Depot Canada. "We just don't want to slow down the movement of products and people."

Later, the Prime Minister told reporters that Mr. Bush, too, is concerned about the issue, particularly over what documents would be used to establish a person's bona fides before getting a card. He also said he wouldn't discourage businesses from expressing their concerns to the United States.

This week was the first face-to-face meeting between Mr. Harper and Mr. Bush as leaders. The two men agreed to tell their officials to find ways to kick-start talks to resolve the softwood lumber dispute. However, Mr. Harper said his government will continue to pursue legal avenues and subsidize the Canadian industry if success isn't forthcoming.

At one point yesterday, Mr. Bush complimented Mr. Harper on his directness, a characterization with which the Canadian Prime Minister didn't disagree.

"I don't discuss private conversations, but some of you may know that sometimes I express myself, believe it or not, not only directly but colourfully and not suited for public television."