I tend to agree with Phil! The Canada/U.S. border was to all intent and purpose, and subject to certain "profiling guidelines" an open border. For near fifty years of back and forth crossing, I cannot recall an incident where it took more than a minute or less to "process" us through. The Guard sized us up, asked a few questions from each of us and sent us on our way.
I think Phil id deploring the end of this era of openness. That's not even taking into account the rather silly commercial lobbies that prohibit certain goods carried by individuals from entering our respective countries!
All that said, still crossed in December with my driver's license photo ID and nothing requested from the wife. Guard was more interested in the beef content in my dog food but relented when I pointed out the bag clearly said "Made in USA"
We need better ID's to speed up border crossings by genuine honest folks, I just happen to feel that using 200 year old ID system such as passports is not the way to go.
The objection by our Canadian Government to implementing a sure fire high tech ID system to curb rampant fraud against our Helth Programs, Worker's Comp, Welfare and Employment Insurance is of all thing "COST"!
The system would pay for itself in no time with the savings effected, but there is a strong lobby from folks with vested interests in not being accuratly identifiable that seems to carry a lot of weight, not to mention the bleeding hearts crying invasion of privacy?
Ahhh, the good old days! Guess the're gone for good.
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