Alternative to passport ready in one year

QUEBEC CITY - Quebec's Premier, and the Governor of Vermont say the American government's plan to require a passport to enter the United States will have a serious economic impact on both sides of the border. The two have signed an agreement to propose an alternative- an 'enhanced' driver's license that Jean Charest says should be ready one year from now.

Passports are already required for Canadians to enter the US by air, but the under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, they would also be required to enter by land and sea crossings effective June 1st 2009.

Vermont Governor James Douglas worries there will be an economic cost to the move. He points to the Jay Peak Ski resort just south of the border.

"Half of the customers... are Canadian," says Douglas. "The general manager has explained to me that his business would be adversely affected tremendously if this requirement were to go into effect."

Douglas says his state is the third to be given approval by the US Department of Homeland Security to accept new enhanced drivers licenses instead of passports.

Premier Jean Charest explains the license would contain a number that would give border guards access to encrypted information that is ususally accessible with a passport, including date of birth; and whether or not the person has a criminal record. He says they should be ready by December of 2008.

Talks continue between several other provinces and states to ensure the use of the cards will be widespread.

The Premier says the passport is simply, "more costly; more onerous; and more difficult," than the proposed drivers license.

Douglas says Quebec will benefit from the experience of British Columbia which he says has already launched a small number of the licenses as a pilot project.

Charest admitted the licenses would likely cost more to drivers than they currently do, but he says they would start out on a "voluntary" basis.