U.S. Security Plans Could Lead To 'invisible Barrier' At Border, Says Wilson

"I'm very optimistic about a new beginning," said Wilkins, who noted the government's throne speech reference this week to the United States as Canada's "best friend." Last week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned Canadians they better get used to the idea of carrying passports after President George W. Bush wouldn't back down from the plan adopted by Congress in light of the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001. Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day will be holding meetings on the details of the U.S. plan with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "It's very important that we get the answers and get them on a timely basis," said Wilson. "Let's ensure that our border continues to bring us together rather than drive us apart." It's possible, said Wilson, that Canada will devise a security card similar to the one U.S. officials are working on to incorporate proof of nationality. "It could be identical. It could have the same information. It's too early to be precise." That's certainly what U.S. officials are hoping will happen. "That would really harmonize things at the border," said Jim Williams, director of the U.S.-VISIT program at Homeland Security. Officials have also started to talk about sharing databases of information to check the identity of each other's residents, although they're concerned about privacy issues. There's a lot of concern, said Williams, that there's so much misinformation and many people think they need passports right now. http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=5c8e2907-bd48-4bf3-9847-70bc85055525&k=85753

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