Dubya's passport scheme: D'Oh says No

NEWS RELEASE

DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

********************** Orazietti urges federal government to protect Sault tourism industry

U.S. passport law expected to reduce visitors to Ontario

Queen's Park – Sault MPP David Orazietti and the Ontario Government are concerned about the impending U.S. law requiring all persons crossing the international border to carry a passport.

"Ontario is open for business and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative proposed by the United States has the potential to seriously impact tourism and trade throughout our province and here in Sault Ste. Marie," said Orazietti. "Our government has made a $350,000 investment in Searchmont, a $15-million investment in Borealis on the Gateway site, as well as other related investments and the federal government needs to reach an agreement with the U.S. that protects our tourism and trade sectors while ensuring border security."

The Ontario government is urging Ottawa to jointly implement security measures with the United States that will not have a negative impact on tourism and trade.

"I was astounded because I heard during the election campaign, the Conservative slogan was, I'm going to stand up for Canada," said Jim Bradley, Ontario's minister of tourism. "Our municipal representatives and federal representatives have all said we have to fight this issue, but instead we have the Prime Minister capitulating, running up the white flag."

Orazietti made the following statement on the border issue in the Ontario Legislature:

******************** Thank you Mr. Speaker.

I'd like to express my concern and that of my community with the U.S. passport proposal and its effect on tourism and cross-border travel.

The tourism industry is vital to my riding of Sault Ste. Marie and to our entire province.

I implore the federal government House leader, Rob Nicholson, who represents the border riding of Niagara Falls, to educate Prime Minister Harper on this issue.

Last October, Mr. Nicholson said that he feared "the chilling effect" of the passport plan and its effect on tourism and the economy of border communities.

He stated: "People who don't live along the border don't understand the border," and that "this is a truly Canadian issue, not just a Niagara issue. This can't wait for another summer season to come and go. I'm worried about the tourism we're losing right now."

I completely agree with the 2005 Mr. Nicholson, who has now, in 2006, remained silent on the issue despite the fact that Prime Minister Harper has raised the white flag to President Bush, saying, "It's an American law ... I don't think that there's any prospect of Congress changing it."

Premier McGuinty hasn't given up.

He's taken over the job that Mr. Harper and Mr. Nicholson are supposed to do.

Our premier has been working with trade, commercial and tourism officials in the US to try to alter this law.

He has won the support of the governors in Michigan, New York and Ohio, and he recognizes that the tourism industry is worth $1.6 billion annually in Canada, even if the federal government does not.

I hope that government House leader Nicholson will regain his 2005 form and urge Prime Minister Harper, as he did Prime Minister Martin, to stand up for Canadian border communities, as Premier McGuinty is doing today.

*******************