U.S. Homeland Security has come out with a “smart card” option for U.S. citizens that may speed up the process at the border, providing an alternative to passports. In 2004, Congress passed legislation in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks which would toughen entry requirements and, by January 2008, visitors and returning U.S. citizens would require a passport. The new People Access Security Services, or “PASS” card, announced yesterday would be considered an equivalent to the passport.
Only about one in five Americans presently carry a passport and the proposed new requirement was a major concern for tourism industry representatives right across Canada. U.S. citizen visits to Canada are down in past years and research shows that the downturn is most noticeable in spontaneous visits.
“We are obviously very pleased with the direction the new identification card will take us,” noted Minister of Tourism for P.E.I., Philip Brown. “The passport issue has been at top of the list during Federal-Provincial-Territorial meetings and now we’re seeing some movement away from the perceived roadblock for cross-border travellers. We want to make coming to Canada, and coming to Prince Edward Island, easy and affordable for U.S. citizens.”
Michael Chertoff, Homeland Security Secretary made a joint announcement with State Secretary Condoleezza Rice and noted that the PASS card would be equipped with radio chips that will automatically retrieve the holder’s details on the screen of the border agent, and is aimed at the tens of millions of border-crossing U.S. citizens who don’t have a passport.
Randy Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada noted, “It’s a step in the right direction. It’s a signal that Homeland Security has got the message that a handy and inexpensive card as an alternative to a passport is needed.”
The announcement by U.S. Homeland Security was unilateral and Mr. Williams expects Canada to create a similar program. “It’s on the Canadian agenda, we have an interest in coming up with a card.”
Tourism officials across Canada expect to hear more details on the Canadian version of the PASS in the very near future.