Support may be building for a delay in implementing new passport requirements to cross between Canada and the U.S.
This is a welcome change from rushing to impose draconian rules that would stifle the economy without guaranteeing more security. Cross-border ties are too important to blindly accept new rules, despite the suggestion of the U.S. consul in Vancouver that the region should essentially get used to an inconvenient new era.
Key legislators, Gov. Gregoire and Premier Campbell have all proposed relying on higher security driver's licenses rather than requiring passports. They've pointed out that having passports didn't prevent the Sept. 11 attacks and wouldn't necessarily make a difference now.