Canadians to be charged a fee for entering the USA

[TenPenny]

Because now we Canadians have to pay for their debt they've accumulated.

First off, we don't HAVE to pay it.
Second, the amount recovered won't make the tiniest difference in the debt.

Third, who cares? The US is a foreign country. If they choose to impose fees on visitors, that's their option. Either you're willing to go visit, or you're not. Many countries require entry visas, that cost money.

People in this country must be well off if they feel it's important to whine about this.

 

[JLM]

Because now we Canadians have to pay for their debt they've accumulated.

Ummmmmmmmmm, I doubt if $5.50 will go far toward knocking down $17 billion. :lol:

 

[petros]

First off, we don't HAVE to pay it.
Second, the amount recovered won't make the tiniest difference in the debt.

Third, who cares? The US is a foreign country. If they choose to impose fees on visitors, that's their option. Either you're willing to go visit, or you're not. Many countries require entry visas, that cost money.

People in this country must be well off if they feel it's important to whine about this.

You gotta pay to land in Chile. I'm not sure if they take Old Navy gift cards but it's no more expensive than a beer with a meal.

It's the pain in the ass of it all. If you cross some where busy like Windsor Detroit or Peace Arch in Vancouver/Blaine the lines are already upto 3 hours.

 

[TenPenny]

You gotta pay to land in Chile. I'm not sure if they take Old Navy gift cards but it's no more expensive than a beer with a meal.

It's the pain in the ass of it all. If you cross some where busy like Windsor Detroit or Peace Arch in Vancouver/Blaine the lines are already upto 3 hours.

When you cross at Windsor/Detroit, are you in a plane, or on a boat?

 

[petros]

High in the air on a bridge crossing water. Kinda like a boat and kinda like a plane. Land crossings will be eventually be charging too.

 

[gore0bsessed]

Ummmmmmmmmm, I doubt if $5.50 will go far toward knocking down $17 billion. :lol:

Apparently you don't understand Canadians are the USA's largest source of tourists, and growing yearly.
In 2011 18,960 Canadian tourists visited the USA ... 18960*5.50=104,280$ .. so $100,000+ annually from Canadian tourists on this simple extra 5.50 charge alone.. this isn't taking into account other expenses of course.
No they aren't going to wipe out the debt with this, (they'll probably never pay it off) but it's an nice extra chunk of change feeding into the American economy .....

 

[TenPenny]

Apparently you don't understand Canadians are the USA's largest source of tourists, and growing yearly.
In 2011 18,960 Canadian tourists visited the USA ... 18960*5.50=104,280$ .. so $100,000+ annually from Canadian tourists on this simple extra 5.50 charge alone.. this isn't taking into account other expenses of course.
No they aren't going to wipe out the debt with this, (they'll probably never pay it off) but it's an nice extra chunk of change feeding into the American economy .....

That wouldn't even pay for one border guard.

You're so funny. 'A nice chunk of change'.

 

[gore0bsessed]

B.S, it could easily pay for three.

 

[wulfie68]

Apparently you don't understand Canadians are the USA's largest source of tourists, and growing yearly.
In 2011 18,960 Canadian tourists visited the USA ... 18960*5.50=104,280$ .. so $100,000+ annually from Canadian tourists on this simple extra 5.50 charge alone.. this isn't taking into account other expenses of course.
No they aren't going to wipe out the debt with this, (they'll probably never pay it off) but it's an nice extra chunk of change feeding into the American economy .....

Your numbers seem really low. Fewer than 20,000 tourists from a country of 33 million or so, visited our largest trading partner? Hell, I'd bet more than 20K people passed through the US customs booth at Calgary Intl Airport alone, never mind other ports of entry.

And seriously, $100K is a drop in an Olympic sized swimming pool when it comes to finances on a national scale.

B.S, it could easily pay for three.

No, when you talk benefits, insurance, training and everything else $100K would be lucky to cover the cost of one border guard. These aren't people earning McDonalds wages...

 

[TenPenny]

B.S, it could easily pay for three.

That's true, if the guards get paid less than $20,000 per year, and supply their own uniforms, guns, ammuntion, etc. I highly doubt that's the case.

 

[petros]

Fewer than 20,000 tourists from a country of 33 million

That would be per day not per year.

 

[Retired_Can_Soldier]

Why is this such an outrage to Canadians? Do we have some charter right to enter the US free? Either you want to go, or you don't. Who cares? Why is it a big deal?

It's a stupid additional tax hoisted onto the shoulders of airlines travel agencies that doesn't help bring in foreign dollars. We already have eco-taxes fuel taxes, toll routes, bridge crossing.

This moron President seems to love taxing people and lives for protectionism.

Maybe he should get to work on fixing the F'd up economy down there instead attempting a cash grab.

 

[gore0bsessed]

First off, we don't HAVE to pay it.
Second, the amount recovered won't make the tiniest difference in the debt.

Third, who cares? The US is a foreign country. If they choose to impose fees on visitors, that's their option. Either you're willing to go visit, or you're not. Many countries require entry visas, that cost money.

People in this country must be well off if they feel it's important to whine about this.

That's dumb. I guess if they raise entry fee to $20 you still wouldn't have a problem? "DURR IT"S JUST THEIR CHOICE" .
How about the Canadians that cross the border everyday to work? How about the Canadians that have family across the border they visit frequently? It's not always just a vacation.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

That's dumb. I guess if they raise entry fee to $20 you still wouldn't have a problem? "DURR IT"S JUST THEIR CHOICE" .
How about the Canadians that cross the border everyday to work? How about the Canadians that have family across the border they visit frequently? It's not always just a vacation.

Well, they don't have to fly or go by boat to visit them.

Has anybody asked if they will give volume discounts? Perhaps a loyalty card where every 10th crossing by plane is free.

 

[TenPenny]

That's dumb. I guess if they raise entry fee to $20 you still wouldn't have a problem? "DURR IT"S JUST THEIR CHOICE" .
How about the Canadians that cross the border everyday to work? How about the Canadians that have family across the border they visit frequently? It's not always just a vacation.

You're missing the point: the US is a foreign country. They're under no obligation to be nice to Canadians, just because we feel we have an intrinsic right to visit the US.

There is no legal requirement for Canadians to visit the US, except for a few NBers who are required to go to court and therefore must, in winter, pass through Maine. Since this is a road crossing, these people are exempt from the current fee structure.

 

[gore0bsessed]

Your numbers seem really low. Fewer than 20,000 tourists from a country of 33 million or so, visited our largest trading partner? Hell, I'd bet more than 20K people passed through the US customs booth at Calgary Intl Airport alone, never mind other ports of entry.

And seriously, $100K is a drop in an Olympic sized swimming pool when it comes to finances on a national scale.



No, when you talk benefits, insurance, training and everything else $100K would be lucky to cover the cost of one border guard. These aren't people earning McDonalds wages...

I botched that, thinking about it now those numbers are real real low. It's because the stats I was looking at were displayed in thousands, so it's actually 18,960,000 Canadians that visited the USA in 2011.... (According to Wikipedia)
Now let's do that math again, 18,960,000*5.50 = $104,280,000...

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

I botched that, thinking about it now those numbers are real real low. It's because the stats I was looking at were displayed in thousands, so it's actually 18,960,000 Canadians that visited the USA in 2011.... (According to Wikipedia)
Now let's do that math again, 18,960,000*5.50 = $104,280,000...

How many of those by plane or boat?

 

[gore0bsessed]

You're missing the point: the US is a foreign country. They're under no obligation to be nice to Canadians, just because we feel we have an intrinsic right to visit the US.

There is no legal requirement for Canadians to visit the US, except for a few NBers who are required to go to court and therefore must, in winter, pass through Maine. Since this is a road crossing, these people are exempt from the current fee structure.

They of course have an obligation to be nice to Canadians. We're there number one tourist destination for one thing, they wouldn't want to upset that would they?

How many of those by plane or boat?

Probably not many at all, good point.

 

[EagleSmack]

Lots of countries charge landing fees. Some need the money others don't. Are they that broke they need my $5.50? If so I'll send them $10 and a Christmas card to help make ends meet.

Hey I'm not broke but it will be a nice gesture. I'll send Andem my P.O Box and he can give it to y'all.

(I said "y'all")

I usually cross in Quebec and never had this happen.

It is only a plane and boat thing.

 

[DurkaDurka]

Probably not many at all, good point.

Not many Canadians enter the US via plane? Are you nuts