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<html> <head> <meta name="generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 10"> <meta http-equiv="content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <style> p { margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1px } body { font-family: "Arial", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal } </style> </head> <body> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">October 31, 2005 <i>(4:30 p.m. EST)</i><br> No. 203</span></span></span></p> <br> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">CANADA COMMENTS ON U.S. PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS PROPOSAL </span></span></span></p> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Government of Canada today submitted its official comment to the U.S. government on the proposed Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. The proposed initiative would require all travellers, including Canadians, to present a passport or other documents indicating citizenship and identity when entering or re-entering the U.S. from the western hemisphere. </span></span></p> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">&#8220;The flow of Canadians and Americans across our border is a vital and historic part of the Canada-U.S. relationship, and the effective management of that flow is an important responsibility,&#8221; said Foreign Affairs Minister Pettigrew. &#8220;As in all aspects of our relationship, it is something we are constantly working at, because the security and prosperity of both our countries depend on it. The proposed changes to document requirements at the U.S. border are of concern to us and it is extremely important that we take the time required to get this right.&#8221; </span></span></p> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">&#8220;Canada and the U.S. share an interest in enhancing the security and prosperity of North America, and together we have achieved tremendous success in improving the efficiency and security of our border,&#8221; said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Anne McLellan. &#8220;In the spirit of this successful collaboration, we must ensure that our shared goal of increased security does not put at risk the livelihood of millions who rely on our border.&#8221; </span></span></p> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Canada&#8217;s comment proposes to: </span></span></p> <p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in">&#160;</p> <p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">&#8226;<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</span>partner together to keep the border working for legitimate travellers and trade; </span></span></p> <p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in">&#160;</p> <p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">&#8226;<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</span>strengthen the foundations for establishing identity and citizenship in our respective passport-issuance processes, and the security of documents used for this purpose, with the increased engagement of states and provinces in identity authentication;</span></span></p> <p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in">&#160;</p> <p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">&#8226;<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</span>work jointly to identify and assess the best options for alternative documents to be required in the land border context;</span></span></p> <p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in">&#160;</p> <p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">&#8226;<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</span>conduct necessary live pilots of the preferred options at high-volume land border crossings to evaluate if and how they will enable both countries to meet security and facilitation objectives; and</span></span></p> <p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in">&#160;</p> <p style="text-indent: -0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">&#8226;<span>&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</span>based on joint assessment and evaluation, make binational recommendations on documentary requirements at our shared border and how to implement them, taking into account the need to ensure that the appropriate resources and infrastructure are available to guarantee the smooth functioning of border crossings and to ensure that required documents are affordable and accessible.</span></span></p> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Currently, U.S. citizens, Canadians and some citizens of other countries in the western hemisphere are not required to present a passport to enter or re-enter the U.S.</span></span></p> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative would be implemented in two phases. By December 31, 2006, it would be applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. By December 31, 2007, the requirement would be extended to all land border crossings.</span></span></p> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">While we are prepared to move quickly on the action plan in the official comment, the Government of Canada is concerned that the work required may take more time to complete than the current time frame presently allows for.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">&#160;</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">On September 1, 2005, the U.S. government opened a 60-day public-consultation period on the initiative, providing Canada with the opportunity to comment. Canada&#8217;s official comment is the result of extensive and thorough consultations with stakeholders in the provinces, territories, business and non-governmental organizations. </span></span></p> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">To view Canada&#8217;s official comment please visit: </span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221003829/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/can-am/main/right_nav/whti_comment-en.asp"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/can-am/main/right_nav/whti_comment-en.asp</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">.</span></span></span></p> <br> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></span></span></p> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></span></p> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">James Christoff<br> Press Secretary<br> Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br> (613) 995-1851</span></span></span></p> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br> Foreign Affairs Canada<br> (613) 995-1874<br> </span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221003829/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p> <br> <br> <p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Alex Swann<br> Director of Communications<br> Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and<br> Emergency Preparedness<br> (613) 991-2863 </span></span></span></p> </body> </html>

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Last Updated: 2006-10-30 Top of Page
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