Passport cards will help American tourists

The U.S. government has announced that it will offer special "passport cards" as a cheap alternative to traditional documents for Americans returning from visiting Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean by land or sea.

Although U.S. Congress passed legislation that delays the requirement for everyone to produce a passport at land border points until the summer of 2009, there are still concerns that Americans would not make the trip to Canada due to the expense and complications associated with passports.

MP Anthony Rota told BayToday that while the State Department awarded a five-year US$100 million contract to General Dynamics Information Technology is good news, but he would like to see the same ease for Canadians travelling to the U.S.

“It is encouraging because it will make it easier for Americans to visit Canada. It's a step in the right direction; however there are still a lot of details that have to be worked out.”

“This does not correct the situation forcing Canadians to poses a passport when travelling to the United States of America.”

Sault Ste. Marie MP Tony Martin agrees the new cards are a step in the right direction.

"This appears to be encouraging news returning things a bit more too normal. Hopefully it will mean more Americans visiting Sault Ste. Marie and Northern Ontario often,” he states in a news release Wednesday.

"Many Americans resist the expense and trouble of getting passports. There will have to be a good education campaign because there is still much confusion on what documents are needed where."

The U.S. Government will begin distribution of the cards, which will not be accepted for air travel, in the spring. U.S. citizens can apply for them starting February 1st.