I despise the thought of needing a passport to go to Canada!

I am Canadian and have travelled many times to the U.S. and I am in the proccess of buying property down there very soon,I find it a hassle needing a passport just to come back and forth,but even Mexico has more rights than Canadians do,they can immagrate and get green cards for the U.S,but Canadians can not. we are resticted to snowbirds statues. I do however understand the need for tight security,Canada does allow far to many immigrants from certan areas to come to canada without the proper security checks.

I have always wanted to go and visit Canada but I never fully knew what the requirements was for it. We put it off and now they require a passport and such. I think that is too much to require from U.S. citizens especially the ones who live close to the border also. I live in Indiana and all we have to do is go north and go through Michigan to get there but them we need a passport. Uggghhhhhh. I don't know much about passports.

Yes, this is so sad but unfortunately this was brought on by evil people with evil intentions for both countries. By the way, you guys in America got a reprieve. If you drive you can still get into Canada with a valid driver's licence until next year. We on the other hand can no longer drive to the US with a driver's licence, we need a passport now. When I was young we used to cross the border just to have a meal and then return. Try this now and you are greeted with disbelief and suspicion. We all miss the good old days.

Good morning Gardengrrl, While I agree that it's sad to lose the comfortable, trusting relationship we've enjoyed with Canada for so long (and Canada with us), I see this from a slightly different perspective. I have't read GrandpaBob's story link yet, but if I'm reading his posting right, then I'm somewhat disheartened that cross-border drivers aren't also subject to the new passport reg's. Here's why: A friend of mine is going to Italy next week. And, she was grumbling yesterday about a new USA passport feature that allows law enforcement to scan unopenned passports, from a short distance, without interfering with the traveller's itinerary. The goal of the new technology is to be able to scan for forged, or stolen passports -- without the holder even knowing that they're being scanned, and thus not being detained, unless their passport issues a red-flag. I haven't had the time to investigate this claim, or the features of the scanning technology. But it does raise some interesting questions. Regarding illegal search & seizure -- well, I'm sure that it'll be challenged by the ACLU. However, since the traveller is not being stopped, and no physical search conducted, whereby contraban might be found, thereby rendering the carrier to prosecution ... And, where the scanning search would use a database of known stolen passports, then the search is limited, in scope, to issues with probable cause. And, if the technology can weed out forged doc's from authentic, then I think it might be a superb advancement for our ability to easily, and securely cross the border. Some will argue that this IS a national ID, but hey, we've already got those. They're called drivers licenses, and social security numbers. And, given the fact that we now have multiple instances of persons who intend to cause harm to America, and it's citizens, crossing into the USA from both the North & South ... I can see the value to the American traveller of streamlining the info already searchable through our two forms of I.D. When we consider how many people have erroneously been detained at airports, because their name appears on the "No-Fly" list, we can begin to see a valid reason to link a picture with a name, so as to restore undetained travel to regular, everyday, law-abiding citizens. Of course, I'll add that passports should be less expensive, and that they should be issued in a reasonable time frame. This waiting months is absurd, and demonstrates the slow, cumbersome nature of government. Naturally, our citizens would need to remain vigilant against inappropriate 'targeting' by unscrupulous agents of the gov't. But, we have many systems of checks & balances in this country. And, I'd like to see another -- a formal citizens oversight committee, with real teeth. But, that's remains a topic for another day!

No passport for Canada, Mexico travel By DEVLIN BARRETT and Jennifer Talhelm, Associated Press Writers Fri Jun 8, 11:17 AM ET WASHINGTON - The Bush administration on Friday suspended some of its new, post-Sept. 11 requirements for flying abroad, hoping to placate Congress and irate summer travelers whose vacations have been thwarted by delays in processing their passports. Heres a link to read. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_travel/20070608/ap_tr_ge/travel_brief_passports_2 HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~

I know! Isn't so sad how America is becoming? We keep making things or passing laws to make us more secure but then we needs more laws and more things to make those thing safe. We keep trading our "safety" (or image of!) for our freedom. Our children have to sit in the backseat of a car until they're 13 in a booster seat for crying out loud! What in the world is this country coming to? I live in Seattle and soon I won't be able to drive and cross the border without a passport! I have one, but it expires soon. That means before I can go back to Vancouver I have to go and apply for a new passport with my married name and then wait the many weeks before I get it in the mail to finally be able to visit Canada again. Such stupidity.

well i think it has to do not only with border security but personal security as well. As you would recall, the lapses in the security systems and organizational allowed for the near success of the September 11 which was the worst in the history of the united states. i think after that incident and many other aborted ones targeted at their allies, the united states became largely conscious of their security and made sure they would never fall into that kinda think again, so i think thats why the border patrols are been charged up so as to forestall any of such incidences

Unfortunately when terrible things happen because people take advantage of freedoms like this it results in tightening of security. On a completely different tack I'm an australian who first visited New Zealand about 10 years ago. I didn't need a passport to get into NZ but I had to have one to come back into Australia. At the time I thought that was pretty strange.

my parents live on the mexican border and just went to get their $95 passport as well. that way they will have it when the law goes into effect. you know, it won't do a blasted thing to stop the criminals. criminals do not bother with abiding laws, they will find a way around the regulations. it is the everyday trustworthy joe that will continue to be punished for being honest.