There is overwhelming evidence that the proposed US passport requirements will severly damage commerce between Canada and the US. Canada and the US have the world's largest economic relationship with over a billion dollars a day crossing the border. Why mess with success? It's completely illogical, especially as it will do nothing to improve security, the stated aim of the program. I can't post the hundreds of articles against this proposition (a mere handful in favor) but a sample are below. I'll leave it at that for now but if others want more detail I'm happy to post more articles.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...9/ai_107473852

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vanc...3-4c1563edc380
Proposed U.S. passport legislation would cost the B.C. tourism industry $403 million in lost revenues between 2005 and 2008 as more than 1.3 million U.S. visitors would be deterred from travelling to the province, according to a provincial government submission this week to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...assports_x.htm
Congress warned against passport requirement
WASHINGTON (AP) — New York businesses warned Congress Thursday that requiring passports at the border will disrupt trade and hurt tourism, while one official tried to reassure lawmakers that an alternative ID would probably cost about $50.
Howard Zemsky, leader of a Buffalo-area business group, warned lawmakers: "Don't turn the war on terrorism into the war on tourism."

He and other witnesses outlined their fears that a new rule to require passports at all land crossings into the United States by 2008 would clog up commerce with the country's biggest trading partner, Canada, and keep out critical tourism dollars.

http://murray.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=250773
Senator Murray Presses Bush Administration to Delay Passport Requirement and Work with Whatcom Businesses to Ensure Secure, Efficient Border
Murray also Sends Delegation Letter to Secretaries Rice and Chertoff Urging Fix

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 25, 2006

(Washington, D.C.) – Today at a Senate hearing, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) urged the Bush Administration to delay the passport requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) until 2008. She also called on the Bush Administration to work closely with the local business and civic leaders in Whatcom County to ensure the final plan improves security without hurting cross-border trade and tourism.


WHTI will require people crossing the border into the United States to show a passport or other approved document starting December 31, 2006 for passengers entering the U.S. by air or sea, and by December 31, 2007 for land border crossings.


Murray is concerned that the new rules could hurt Washington state commerce without actually improving security. Today, at a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Murray urged James Williams, Director of the U.S. Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) Program to delay the passport requirement for sea and air crossings until 2008 and to work with local officials in Whatcom County.