This is from the CBC. The high tech driver's licences seem an obvious alternative. THe US has already confirmed that it will accept them. Quebec has an agreement with Vermont re the licences. I wonder how much more our high-tech licences will cost. Probably they will cost us quite a bit more than they cost to produce. No doubt the production will be contracted out to some company that has the proper govt. connections. Lets wait and see if there is an open contracting process.
Sask. government looking for alternative to passports at border
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 9, 2008 | 5:30 PM CT
CBC News
With tighter rules looming, Saskatchewan is looking at an alternative to passports at the Canada-United States border.
Starting Jan. 31, proof of citizenship and government photo identification will be required for people who enter the U.S.
But politicians are still trying to make it easy for people to cross without jeopardizing security.
Saskatchewan Government Services Minister Dan D'Autremont, who was in Montana Tuesday for meetings with officials from Alberta, Montana and North Dakota, said the feeling is, it's too "onerous" to expect everybody who drives across the border to have a passport with them.
"Coming to Canada or going to the U.S. is less than, say, flying to Europe or flying to Asia," he said. "We've had generally an open-border policy up until now where you simply say 'I'm a Canadian citizen from Alida and I'm just going down to Minot to pick my aunt kind of thing.'"
The provincial government doesn't want tourism to suffer, because Americans don't want to get a passport to visit Canada.
D'Autremont said the politicians are looking for an alternative to passports.
One option is an enhanced driver's licence, similar to what is used in B.C., he said.
With tighter rules looming, Saskatchewan is looking at an alternative to passports at the Canada-United States border.
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