WASHINGTON - Member of Canada's parliamentary border caucus were lobbying for a delay on the passport rule Tuesday with U.S. legislators.
Conservative MP Russ Hiebert said he was specifically targeting legislators from southern states that have a lot of Canadian visitors.
"We don't want to preach to the converted'' in border states, said Hiebert.
States like Florida, Nevada, California and South Carolina will feel the pinch if the only option for Canadians is to present a passport at land borders, he said.
Either people won't get them or they'll realize they can take a cheap vacation in the Caribbean once they have the document, said Hiebert, who represents the British Columbia riding of South Surrey, White Rock and Cloverdale.
Canada wants U.S. officials to take all the time Congress gave them, until June 2009, to implement the passport plan and consider options like enhanced driver's licences.