By Justin O’Brien and Robert Costa, USCM Intern
August 7, 2006

U.S. mayors met July 20 with their Canadian counterparts in Windsor, Ontario, for a summit on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) legislation that has been in consideration in the Senate since last year. The Initiative would require passports or other combinations of secure travel documents for every traveler including citizens and residents, coming into the United States across the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders. The initiative intends to ensure and enforce stricter security measures and U.S. entry controls.

The summit called for a border security plan preserving the close relations that Canadian and American cities have developed, as well as preservation of the free flow of people across the border. It asked for the U.S. government to delay implementation of WHTI, which, in its current form, would take effect at U.S. land borders within two years. Those in attendance expressed a need for open borders for the benefit of industry and the economies in their cities.

The summit emphasized the good relations cities and communities on both sides of the border have with their counterparts. The communities have seen great acts of international friendship and diplomacy. Eddie Francis, the Canadian mayor of Windsor, Ontario, who co-hosted the summit with Conference Trustee and Conference Cities and Borders Task Force Co-Chair Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, said “Cities and communities on both sides of the border, like Detroit and Windsor, have a long history of friendship, business, institutional, and educational relationships that benefit both countries. We recognize the need for border security, but WHTI as proposed could do serious damage to these relationships.”

Kilpatrick agreed. “We need the border open to allow the economic and cultural vibrancy of both countries to continue to flourish. Local municipalities must have a voice. We want to make sure that people know that we are joined at the hip on this issue,” he said. The United States Conference of Mayors unanimously adopted policy calling for a delay in the implementation of WHTI at the 74th Annual Conference of Mayors in Las Vegas in June. The policy, entitled “Facilitating Cross-Border Travel Within the Western Hemisphere” highlights the need to bilaterally seek, low-cost secure documentation solutions that enhance US Border Security while ensuring the free-flow of cross-border travel and trade. For full text and more information on Conference border security and related policy please visit usmayors.org/borders on the web.

The mayors discussed the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative and the issue of secure travel documentation with officials from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security involved in the development and implementation of the initiative’s requirements at its 74th Winter Meeting in Washington in January. They were joined by Gloria Kovach, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, who shared the concerns of Canadian cities regarding the impact of WHTI requirements and the program’s implementation in its current form. The proposed timeline for implementing the initiative’s requirements for land border crossings is currently December 31, 2007.

The July event in Windsor was attended by more than 60 mayors and city staff, diplomats, and government officials. Business representatives from Canada and the United States also attended.

In a press release, the summit revealed that more than 5.2 million U.S. jobs rely on trade with Canada. In addition, 3,500 Canadian nurses staff Detroit hospitals. According to summit figures, WHTI will result in an estimated $667.3 million decline in tourism receipts in U.S. communities from 2005 to 2008.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities, which represents over 1200 Canadian cities, suggested several ways to resolve WHTI. The suggestions include:

• Undertaking several bilateral pilot projects to develop comprehensive solutions to border security.

• Ensuring that existing “trusted traveler” programs are expanded and made universally available at all border crossings.

• Seeking unity between WHTI and the U.S. REAL ID Act to provide alternative, acceptable travel documents.