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ANCHORAGE – British Columbia is calling on the Canadian
federal government, other provinces and U.S. states to press forward with
enhanced driver’s licences that can serve as alternatives to passports at
border crossings between Canada and the U.S.
“Ease of border travel is vital to families, communities and economies
on both sides of the border, and we must work together to strengthen security and
keep legitimate trade and travel moving between our two countries,” said
Premier Gordon Campbell today at the 2007 summit of the Pacific Northwest
Economic Region in Anchorage, Alaska.
Under existing U.S. rules, beginning as early as January 2008, all U.S.
citizens and foreign nationals will be required to present a passport or other
documents that show identity and citizenship when entering the United States by
land or sea.
“British Columbia wants to ensure enhanced
drivers’ licences that will be issued by Canadian provinces and territories are
explicitly accepted by U.S authorities as valid travel documents,” B.C.
Intergovernmental Relations Minister John van Dongen said. “I joined
Minister Stockwell Day for the signing of Washington State’s Enhanced Driver's
Licence agreement with the U.S. government in March, and I look forward to
doing the same with Minister Day in time to match our target date of January
2008.”
In December 2005, Premier Gordon Campbell and Washington Governor Chris
Gregoire co-signed a letter to President Bush and Prime Minister Harper,
expressing concerns about the impact of these new travel requirements on
cross-border tourism. In June 2006, Washington and British Columbia began
collaboration to put a project in place that will lead to the enhanced driver’s
licence.
“Washington State and B.C. have worked closely to lead the establishment of enhanced driver licenses,” Washington director of licensing Liz Luce said. “It's convenient, it's secure and it's cost effective. Best of all it provides an option for our citizens.”
“Without providing an alternative to passports, there will be a
significant impact on the tourism industry,” Tourism Victoria CEO and PNWER
Tourism Working Group co-chair Lorne Whyte said. “Car traffic from the U.S. to
B.C. is running 7.4 per cent below last year, in large part due to confusion
and concern for passport requirements. We can’t control exchange rates or gas
prices, but governments can act to make the border crossing both secure and
smooth for travellers.”
“We’re working closely with the federal government to develop the plan
to test an enhanced driver’s licence
as a solution that meets the high
security standards set by both federal governments and keeps legitimate traffic
moving smoothly.” van Dongen said. “We aim to begin the first phase of our
project in January 2008.”
“Travellers on both sides of the border are confused
with the reviews and adjustments to dates and required documents for different types of travel, and
they are frustrated with the long wait for passports,” said Jim Storie, chair
of the Council of Tourism Associations. “The B.C. tourism industry has
worked closely with the Province on the enhanced driver’s licence project: we
look forward to its implementation giving tourist operators the certainty they
need.
“The goal
is to ensure safe, fast and convenient border crossing for travellers on both
sides of the border, particularly as we move closer to the 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games,” Storie said.
Founded
in 1991, Pacific
Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) is a public-private bipartisan
partnership whose members include B.C., Alberta, Yukon, Alaska, Washington,
Oregon, Idaho and Montana. PNWER’s annual summits attract approximately 400
participants, including ministers and legislators from member jurisdictions,
business organizations and private-sector industry associations, and senior
officials from Canadian and U.S. governments.
The July
2008 PNWER summit will be held in Vancouver, B.C.
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Contact: |
Jamie Edwardson Communications Manager Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat 250 356-7373 250 888-0021 (cell) |
Gigi Zenk Communication & Education Director Washington State Dept. of Licensing gzenk@dol.wa.gov 360 902-3611 |
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Peter Larose, MA Acting President
and CEO Council of
Tourism Associations (COTA) 604 685-5996 |
Lorne Whyte President & CEO Tourism Victoria 250 415-3298 (cell) |
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Neil Parekh Policy and Communications Director Pacific Northwest Economic Region 206 940-0023 PNWER Conference Office (July 22 – 25): 206 973-0207 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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