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PDF format (424K) Potential Impact of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) Canada–United States
A Secure Border The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 established a requirement for all US citizens and foreign nationals, including Canadians, to present a passport or other document, or combination of documents, sufficient to denote identity and citizenship, for all travel into the United States. Known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the new documentation requirement must be in place by January 1, 2008.
What's Been Said…"When I first read that in the newspaper, about the need to have passports … I said, what's going on here. I thought there was a better way … to expedite [the] legal flow of traffic and people … if people have to have a passport, it's going to disrupt [the] honest flow of traffic. I think there's some flexibility in the law. And that's what we're checking out right now."
President George Bush, April 14, 2005 "Any way one looks at this, the result is that the cost of international travel by U.S. citizens is going to rise significantly under the new document regime. And new advance planning restraints are going to be imposed on a large market of students and senior citizens whose ability to travel on short notice will therefore be impaired. For many people for whom cross-border travel for leisure and business has been almost a casual experience, a new and imposing degree of formality will be introduced."
Paul M. Ruden, Senior Vice President, Legal & Industry Affairs, American Society of Travel Agents, Inc., June 9, 2005 "We can have both security and cross-border commerce. This plan [WHTI] was poorly thought out and did not take into account how the border works in New York, where people cross it all the time for work, shopping, and leisure."
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Press Release, July 12, 2005 "It's worth recalling that the September 11 terrorists all arrived in the U.S. by airplane, and via legal means. Prevailing against Islamic terrorists requires public support, and the government shouldn't endanger that support with needless costs and hassles."
Wall Street Journal, "Passport Paranoia," April 18, 2005 "Canada is America's most important trading partner, with over $1.6 billion worth of goods crossing the border each day, 16 million Canadians visiting the United States each year, and 14.2 million Americans visiting Canada annually. While it is important for us to enhance the security of our borders, we need to do so in a way that does not disrupt our economic relations. Requiring a passport, in my judgment, is over the top."
Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, during a June 9, 2005 hearing entitled "Safety and Convenience in Cross-Border Travel: An Analysis of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative" "National security and, in particular, security at our borders, must continue to be paramount and I have made security at New York's northern border a top priority since joining the Senate. However, it is crucial that any new requirement be sensitive to the potentially serious impact of this proposal on tourism and the regional economy. I would urge that your departments [DHS and DoS] consider this proposal very carefully and take into account the very real concerns of the business and residential communities along New York's northern border."
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Press Release, April 16, 2005 "[WHTI] may or may not deter terrorists, but it will certainly mean more inconvenience for law-abiding Americans with no guarantee that it will be worth the effort."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Passport to Irritation: O Canada! Americans Overreact to Security," April 11, 2005
- More than 300,000 business people, tourists and regular commuters travel between Canada and the U.S. every day.
- The overwhelming majority of cross-border travelers are low risk.
- 85 percent of cross border traffic is non-commercial in nature.
- In 2001, travelers from the U.S. registered 15.1 million overnight trips to Canada; Canadian travelers registered 4.6 million overnight trips to the U.S.
- Canada bought about $26 billion worth of services from the U.S. in 2003, including $6.7 billion in travel services.
- The number of U.S. travelers to Canada has increased by 20 percent over the last ten years.
- On average, $1.1 billion in goods crosses the Canada–U.S. border every day.
At ports of entry…
Persons arriving at a Canadian port of entry without proper documentation are inadmissible and can be removed. Those considered to be a danger to the public, a security threat, or a flight risk, may be detained. Persons making claims to refugee status are subject to security screening before they are released.
Frequent travelers can access NEXUS, a joint Canada-U.S. customs and immigration program designed to simplify border crossings for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. NEXUS membership totaled 80,542 participants as of June 2005. Between ports of entry…
Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) use shared intelligence and resources to ensure maximum border security. They are responsible for identifying, investigating and interdicting criminal persons and organizations who pose a threat to national security. IBETs incorporate five core Canadian and U.S. agencies — Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP); Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection/Border Patrol (CBP/BP); and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). There are currently 23 IBET teams covering 15 regions across the Canada–U.S. border. Outside of North America…
The best way to prevent terrorists in North America is to stop them before they get here.
Canada's 45 Migration Integrity Officers are in 39 locations worldwide and are credited with preventing 40,000 falsely documented persons from entering Canada since 2001.
Canada and the U.S. share Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) information on high-risk travelers destined for either country. Let's work together…
As decisions regarding the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative are taken and the initiative is implemented, Canada and the U.S. must consult closely to ensure that our common commitment to ensuring that our border facilitates the legitimate flow of people and goods, while not compromising our security, is maintained. Additional Information:
Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Canada: www.psepc-sppcc.gc.ca
Canada Border Services Agency: www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
Citizenship and Immigration Canada: www.cic.gc.ca
Foreign Affairs Canada: www.can-am.gc.ca August 2005 | 
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