From the Niagara Falls Review:
The president of the Travel Industry Association of America said Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff’s plan to push the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative through at land and sea crossings by next June – not 2009, as the House and Senate recommended just days ago – will cause frustrated travellers more confusion.
“What happened Friday and Monday is the U.S. Congress and Senate, by a huge majority, said (passports) would not be needed at land and sea crossings until June 2009 or later,” Roger Dow said Wednesday.
His comments came shortly after Chertoff announced new rules for crossing the Canada-U.S. border effective Jan. 1 2008, which include one form of government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s licence, as well as proof of citizenship such as a birth certificate or citizenship card.
Nexus cards and passports will also be accepted, but not required, under the rules announced in Washington Wednesday.
Dow said the constant changing of rules and implementation dates is damaging for the travel industry as well as commercial trade.