Canadians to be exempt from new U.S. border rules 'until further notice'

[dArKeR]

Canadians will be exempt from stricter rules at U.S. land border crossings to take effect in early 2005 but that could change if Congress sees fit, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security said Friday.

Tom Ridge said that "until further notice," Canadians, as well as Americans returning home from trips north of the border, won't be subject to the congressionally mandated US-VISIT entry-exit program.

The new policy will eventually require travellers to verify their identities to border guards by means of fingerprints, iris scans or digital photos.

But despite the exemption, which stems from Mr. Ridge's interpretation of current policy as it is written, the door is open for Congress to widen the legislation, the secretary acknowledged, despite his concerns that such a change would impair commerce between the two countries.

http://theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031003.wridge1003/BNStory/Front/

These idiot Repukelicans are impairing commerce and tourism and hatred towards the USA and the WORLD.

[Malva Zebrina]

1. On return from a visit to Canada

I love Canada and it's people. I would move there if I were not so old and useless. Recently spent several days there in Fredericton, NB--Blues and Jazz Festival-- and had a great time. Thanks Canada. On return--oh well--I have a travel van--and customs had to go through the whole refrigerator to inspect it's contents--and lo and behold--two hamburgers were taken out, as well as an orange--reason? Oh-- it was "mad cow" disease-no beef allowed to be taken over the border--except that these hamburgers were bought in the US, frozen and taken to Canada--not eaten and coming back home. Sigh--I did not hear of any mad cow disease in Canada, and no one there seemed to be concerned about mad cow disease. sigh--oh well it was only two hamburger patties and one orange--although I do not know why the orange was confiscated. Mad orange disease?

[LeftistGorilla]

3. Well hay....

70% of your people think that Saddam was involved with 9/11....

[J B]

2. Current policy is to respect the treaty of 1812.

And I am very grateful that the Americans finally got it in their heads that this treaty means something...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

4. My trips to Canada:

Going, RCMP says: "Hello, welcome to Canada."
Returning, USBP says: "What the fuck were you doing in Canada?!"

I shit you not.

[HEyHEY]

5. I rememebr once

Me and some University friends drove through maine to go to Quebec from NB. The Border gaurds going into the states was nuts...mean and scary.."I can't talk through the window!!" he says as I was a split second late rolling it down...but seeing as how I was on the DRIVER'S SIDE...I didn't think he wanted to speak to me. The gaurd on the way back (Canadian guard) Was laughing his ass off on a phonecall and basically waved us through.

[goforit]

6. OMG!!!!......Their program is still on schedule!

:puke:

[E_Zapata]

7. The real story IS:

This is a snow job of a story.

Isn't it more true to report:

The US just created a policy saying that anyone coming into this country will have to prove their identities via the methods described. And this includes returning Americans.

I don't give a rat's ass IF the fascist govt says "for now, don't worry about it."

Truth of the tale is: If I want to leave the borders of this god forsaken fascist regime, I have to GIVE the US govt my fingerprints, iris scans and digital photos.

Well, they HAVE my photo on file via my passport photo.

I have never committed a friggin crime in my life == I am not giving my govt or anyone's govt my dna, my fingerprints, the map of my iris or anything else.

And the way it reads, I have to prove who I am when I leave. WTF? That's the destination country's business as to who I am and what I am doing visiting them.

This "new report" should scare the bejesus out of all of us.

If I leave the country, it will be for good. And I say, Good riddance. The worst part of all of this is the fact that the majority of Americans don't even care what is going on.

[DeathvadeR]

9. Whats going on?

[ConcernedCanuk]

8. First of all - In response to Marianne - Post #1

First of all

To Marianne - hey if'n you moved to Canada

- even the "old and useless" get FREE Health CARE

- and although they slaughtered over 1000 head of cattle in a panic - only ONE had the disease - and it was 8 years old - Mad Cow disease takes MANY years to incubate

- and MOST of us Canuks KNOW that Sadaam had nothing to do with 9/11

- gee ya think that the fact that they were Arabs would be a clue ??

- and although I have visited the USA many times in the past - and HAD intended to retire to the sunny south - I will NEVER cross that border with that crazy "patriot" act in force, or while any administration that even remotely resembles the BFEE is in the WH

(sigh)