WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff confirmed Thursday that enhanced driver's licences will be accepted as passport alternatives at the Canada-U.S. border.
Canada has been pushing hard to give travellers a choice, saying passports are expensive, harder to get and most people need licences anyway.
Homeland officials have become increasingly comfortable over the last several months with high-technology driver's licences that will contain proof of citizenship like passports do.
The final rule on the so-called Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, due soon, was expected to endorse them.
But Chertoff left no doubt in a speech to a trade symposium hosted by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.
"Next year, we'll be implementing a rule in stages that will require . . . either a passport, a passcard, Nexus card or enhanced driver's licence to cross the land border,'' he said.
The new security program is supposed to go into effect as early as next summer. Air travellers entering the U.S. already need passports.
"Inevitably there's going to be inconvenience as we make the transition,'' said Chertoff.
But border agents who now have to go into their computers to pull up information will now be able to swipe cards and access information more quickly, he said.
"It's an efficient but more secure way of checking at the border.''
The passcards Chertoff referred to will have special ID chips and are only being developed in the U.S., where they're referred to as passport-lite. Canada has no plans to follow suit and has concentrated solely on licences.
Chertoff's remarks came as business leaders in both countries worry about waiting times that have increased to two and three hours, the longest delays since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Extra security checks, not enough infrastructure, inadequate staffing and faulty computer systems are to blame, they say.
The U.S. is moving toward a system of checking everyone, said Chertoff, who maintained it will be faster with only a handful of acceptable documents rather than the 8,000 that exist in the U.S. now.
A project using high-tech licences at border points between British Columbia and Washington state is expected to start early next year.
"I think it's great that Chertoff is confirming it this early on,'' said John van Dongen, B.C. intergovernmental relations minister.
"Both federal governments now see the efficiency of it. We can improve flow and security. It's a win-win.''
The U.S. department has struck deals with other states, including New York, Arizona and Vermont.
Several provinces, including Ontario, Quebec and Alberta are keen to develop the required licences.
Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, complained last month that Americans still aren't collaborating properly with Canada on the technology they'll be using so the licences in both countries are compatible.
But Ken Oplinger, president of the Bellingham-Whatcom Chamber of Commerce in Washington state, said the U.S. is waiting for Ottawa to get moving and officially endorse them.
Canada still wants the Bush administration to delay implementing the new security measure until 2009, saying no one will be ready and it will cause even more havoc at the border.
