MP Dean Del Mastro joins all-party “Action Team”

Peterborough, ON - Member of Parliament for Peterborough Riding, Dean Del Mastro headed off to Washington, DC, this morning to lobby Congress on WHTI provisions for land and sea crossings, “...and Congress has been listening.” says Del Mastro.

“Prior to January 2006, Canada had been completely silent on the impending WHTI border restrictions. Under Canada's New Government, Canadians do have a voice and we have achieved real results; progress on alternatives to the passport, an exemption for children under 16, and now a Democrat-sponsored bill that will go a long way to helping Canada meet WHTI.”

Congresswoman, Louise Slaughter (D-Buffalo, NY), has introduced, as the 109th Congress’s first priority, the Protecting American Commerce and Tourism (PACT) Act. It’s key provisions include; a pilot program between Washington State and British Columbia on enhanced drivers licenses as an alternative document, the requirement that Homeland Security not move forward on land and sea provisions until this pilot program is finished and evaluated, and an expansion of NEXUS and FAST programs.

“The Conservative Government helped put WHTI on the Democratic radar when the new Congress opened in January. Our government put enhanced drivers licenses on their menu of compliance measures. We are here to encourage them to pass it.” commented Del Mastro.

“In the 108th Congress they decided to change the back-end of the implementation date to June, 2009. Homeland security hasn’t backed off the January 1, 2008 date to implement WHTI at our border with Detroit,” warned Del Mastro. “The PACT Bill will make it virtually impossible for Homeland Security to implement before 2009. That’s why we need to build a coalition of bipartisan support around this Bill,” concluded Del Mastro.

MP Del Mastro has joined members from the all-party Border Caucus in Washington from March 12-14th.