Ontario premier says new ID will ease border crossing
Dalton McGuinty, the premier of Ontario, says that DHS’s rule relaxation, allowing the use of an enhanced driver license instead of a passport to cross into the U.S., should ease such crossings during the holiday season — but that he still hopes Canadians will shop at home
Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty says new high-tech driver’s licenses could help Canadians cross the U.S. border more easily, but he is calling on shoppers to spend in their own country. McGuinty met Sunday with Manitoba premier Gary Doer to discuss new licenses the provinces are working on that will contain citizenship data and could be used in the place of passports. The premiers say they just need to finalize details with the U.S. government, and then get the support of the Canadian federal government to make the plan a reality.
Earlier this month, DHS secretary Michael Chertoff announced relaxed rules for crossing the border and said new high-tech licenses would meet American security requirements. McGuinty, though, said he hopes that Canadians think twice about shopping more in the United States as a result. He said shopping at home supports the local economy and local jobs and he will continue to push retailers to adjust their prices in line with the higher Canadian dollar. “My preference obviously is that Ontarians shop locally, it’s better for the environment, it saves them time and it’s good for the local economy,” McGuinty said.
“And in many cases, you’re going to find that when you factor in the duty and the time, you’re going to get just as good a deal here.”
