October 28, 2005

 

THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING THE FOLLOWING IN RESPONSE TO THE U.S. PASSPORT PROPOSAL

 

As a first step, a bi-national working group should be established to identify and develop proposals for alternative forms of "secure documentation", such as a new, more secure drivers licence or other forms of documentation that would comply with the requirements of the U.S. Real ID Act, 2005. Today, a driver's licence, whether issued by a department of motor vehicles in a Province of Canada or a U.S. State is the most common form of identity document;

 

In addition, proposals for alternative forms of "secure documentation" that are acceptable to the U.S. government should be piloted on a trial basis before broader implementation is considered;

 

Ontario supports the Michigan proposal to develop a secure driver's licence that meets all of the citizenship and identity documentation requirements under the WHTI; Travelers aged 16 or under, traveling across the order with a parent, guardian or designated chaperone who is in possession of appropriate, secure travel documents, should be permitted to enter and re-enter the United States using proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) instead of a passport;

 

Compliance with the WHTI will require considerable lead time and planning efforts by travelers and industry. Ontario recommends re-consideration of the implementation date to provide for sufficient phase-in of the policy and to minimize disruptions to cross-border travel; this would include piloting implementation of the proposed policy before it is broadly applied to all border crossings.

 

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Contacts:
David Oved, Minister’s Office, (416) 314-1400
Gary Wheeler, Communications Branch, (416) 325-8391

 

• News Release