U.S. plans tougher inspections at border

[CHIMO]

OTTAWA — Calling Canada a potential conduit for bioterrorism, pests and disease, the U.S. government is boosting its northern border inspection muscle -- and making Canadian air travellers and commercial shippers foot the bill.

In what it calls an "emergency action," the United States Department of Agriculture has served notice it will levy a per-trip surcharge on all air travellers and commercial cargo shippers from Canada, starting Nov. 24.

The U.S. entry fee will range from $5 (U.S.) per air passenger to $488 per maritime vessel, with trucks paying $5.25 per crossing and railways $7.50 per car.

Trade lawyer Larry Herman said the planned changes appear to breach the North American free-trade agreement. "Border inspections for health, safety and other reasons can be one of the most aggressive uses of protectionism," said Mr. Herman of Cassels Brock in Toronto.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060901.wxborder01/BNStory/Business/home

[madrchsod]

1. isn`t that nice

good idea to piss off our most reliable trading partner. will this bullshit ever stop?

[InkAddict]

2. Ah, yes

Killer bees, Emerald Ash Borers, and Mad Cows.

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got til it's gone
Paved paradise, put up a Wal-Mart parking lot.

[Javaman]

3. Have I stated today, how much I hate

that fucking bastard*?

I have spend a good portion of my childhood in Canada. I love that country. This is nothing but a slap in their face.

We are not far from the day when moron* pissed off every single nation in the world.

He's* our own little ivan the terrible. Read about that guy sometime, we are experiencing the modern version of that fool.

[CHIMO]

4. Simple Solution

Beside the point that it will probably collapse under its own weight of paper.

Close the oil and gas pipe lines at the border and load it onto trucks.