IMPLEMENTATION OF WHTI AIR RULE--TWO WEEKS ON AND

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000222

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/CAN, EB/TRA, AND CA/PPT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KHLS EAIR ASEC CPAS CA
SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF WHTI AIR RULE--TWO WEEKS ON AND
NO BIG PROBLEMS

REF: A) VANCOUVER 058 B) TORONTO 038 C) TORONTO 036

D) HALIFAX 002 E) CALGARY 014 F) VANCOUVER
035 G) QUEBEC 009 H) OTTAWA 108


1. (U) Two weeks after the January 23 implementation of the
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) rule requiring
U.S.-bound air travelers to hold a passport as proof of
identity and citizenship, there have been no serious problems
or delays reported at any of Canada's airports. Having been
advised of the DHS phased-in implementation period (whereby
travelers who are qualified in all respects except possession
of a passport will be admitted to the U.S.),air carriers
have allowed passengers to board or go to Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) preclearance without a passport. As it
turned out, by January 29 over 99 percent of Canadian and
American U.S.-bound air travelers checking in at Canadian
airports did have passports. The chaos and disruptions
anticipated by many, including the media, did not
materialize.


2. (U) Consulates across Canada have reported on the initial
implementation of the January 23 air rule and filed
subsequent updates with Embassy Ottawa. The small number of
passengers who checked in without passports (or had expired
passports) were allowed to board after being given the
passport requirement information and advised to obtain a
passport. In only three instances were passengers denied
boarding, and two of these three appear not to be
WHTI-related denials. Implementation has been variously
described by CBP officers, airlines, and airport authorities
as "problem-free," "a non-issue," "painless," and "a
non-event event."


3. (U) Canadian media representatives present at the
airports looking for delays and long queues, irate
passengers, or "horror stories," were disappointed. There
were no big problems. Passengers at some airports were in
visibly good spirits, possibly because the anticipated hassle
at check-in did not occur. One reporter expressed
disappointment that there was no story--everything was going
fine. Though WHTI implementation was not considered
newsworthy, the delay in issuance of passports to Canadian
citizens was, and several stories have run on that problem
over the past two weeks.


4. (U) On January 25, Ambassador Wilkins sent his
congratulations to Mission Canada employees for the
successful implementation of the WHTI air rule. He noted
that this team effort--in publicity and outreach to inform
the public, and in talking with airlines, airport
authorities, and Canadian government officials--had averted
the confusion which many expected. Now we turn our sights to
the 2008 implementation of the WHTI land and sea rule, and
the debate over "acceptable alternative documents" that might
be used in lieu of a passport.

Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa

WILKINS