WASHINGTON — The requirement for Canadians to show a passport when entering the U.S. has been delayed until 2009.

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28), Chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, says that language she authored delaying implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) until June 2009 was included in the Omnibus spending bill passed by Congress this week. The bill passed last night by a vote of 253-154.

“This is truly a great victory in our fight to prevent the foolishly misguided requirements of WHTI from devastating the economy of Western New York by unnecessarily hampering travel and trade,” said Rep. Slaughter. “I am very pleased that I was able to include language that prohibits the implementation of WHTI anytime before June 2009, so that we can develop a comprehensive policy that not only secures our borders, but ensures that our regional economy will be able to reap the benefits from both trade and tourism.”

“The traffic across our northern border is critical to our economy, and we must never sacrifice our relationship with Canada with an ill conceived attempt to increase border security. I have long said that economic security and physical security are not mutually exclusive. We can, and must, have both.”

In addition to delaying the implementation of WHTI, Rep. Slaughter also included language withholding $75 million required by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to implement the program until the Department reports the outcome of their multiple driver’s licence and technology trials, as well as provides a port-by-port infrastructure and staffing plan to Congress.

In addition, DHS must confirm that acceptable identification cards have been adequately tested to ensure operational success and privacy safeguards. This language will make certain that DHS develops a strong WHTI implementation plan that secures our borders while facilitating travel and trade with Canada.

The U.S. has already confirmed that it is willing to accept new high-tech security drivers’ licences as an alternative to a passport, if and when WHTI is finally implemented.

Provices like Ontario and B.C. have already begun issuing such licences that could be approved for passage into the U.S.