Reuters North American News Service, January 21st, 2008
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - The western
Canadian province of British Columbia is set to start testing
the country's first high-tech driver's license, aimed at
allaying U.S. security concerns while also allowing spontaneous
trips across the border.
The province unveiled new licenses Monday that contain
an electronic microchip that will give border guards access to
the driver's citizenship information and serve as an
alternative to a passport.
The licenses are initially designed to ease travel between
British Columbia and Washington state, which is already taking
applications for its own enhanced license project.
The first Canadian licenses are expected to be issued this
spring.
The Pacific Coast province and state agreed to develop the
licenses after the U.S. federal government said it would
require all drivers and adult passengers -- including Americans
-- to present a passport when entering the country from either
Canada or Mexico.
Critics of the passport requirement, which will take effect
by June 2009, say it will hamper routine trade and ignores the
fact that border residents often make short and impromptu trips
across the line for shopping or to visit friends.
"It's not simply a trading relationship its a social
relationship," British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said.
The provincial and state governments are keen to have their
license systems in full operation before the 2010 Winter
Olympics in Vancouver, which are expected to cause a spike in
border crossings.
Supporters of the enhanced licenses, including Canada's
federal government, hope to convince the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security to accept them in lieu of passports.
Federal Public Safety Minster Stockwell day predicted on
Monday that other province will adopt similar licenses if
British Columbia is successful.
Vermont, New York and Arizona are also studying Washington
state's system.
Applicants in both British Columbia and Washington state
must prove their citizenship to get the licenses. Canadians
must also agree to allow some protected private information to
be shared with U.S. border authorities.
British Columbia will initially select 500 people to test
the licenses. The province has a large immigrant population,
but the initial test will be limited to citizens who were born
there.
(Reporting Allan Dowd, Editing Rob Wilson)
