Border securityCanada blasts DHS plan to impose a $5.50 border fee on Canadians

Published 22 March 2011

A $5.50 border fee proposed for the 2012 budget would net millions for the American coffers, funding security measures; DHS is calling for the change, and analysts predict the increase in collections could bring in up to $110 million dollars; Canadian Foreign Affairs officials have blasted the fee

A $5.50 border fee proposed for the 2012 budget would net millions for the American coffers, funding security measures. There is a problem, though: many Canadians are not thrilled with the move, including Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper who said in February: “I think in terms of the economic recovery, we want to make sure that trade and travel between our two countries is easier, not more difficult.”

Citizens from Mexico and the Caribbean would also pay the fee that America’s nearest neighbors have long been exempt from, Canada included.

Fox News reports that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is calling for the change, and analysts predict the increase in collections could bring in up to $110 million dollars.

In a statement released by DHS, Assistant Press Secretary Adam Fetcher said: “The current exemption means that the fees collected from passengers entering from all other countries and appropriated tax dollars are subsidizing the inspections of passengers from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Removing the exemption would bring fee parity for all air and sea passengers entering the United States.

We will continue to work closely with our partners in Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean to provide greater security and greater economic opportunity for all international travelers.”

Canadian Foreign Affairs officials have blasted the fee. Lynn Meahan, press secretary for the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon, released this strongly worded statement regarding the proposed fee: “Obviously, we think this is a bad idea. In this fragile economic recovery, now is not the time to be imposing new fees or taxes on Canadians.

We need to work together to increase the flow of people to the benefit of both of our economies — and that is why PM Harper and President Obama committed to work across a wide range of issues to achieve that goal.”