MPP Ted Arnott raises Canada-US Passport issue, invites Minister to meeting with new US Consul General

Advocating for Ontario Tourism, Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott is continuing to raise the pending passport issue that could eventually require all American tourists visiting Ontario to have a passport to get back home. He raised the issue during Question Period on November 15th.

“Tourism operators, including the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association have expressed great interest in this issue. Many believe that the passport requirement, if implemented, would have severe negative impacts on Ontario Tourism,” Mr. Arnott told the House.

“Almost six months ago this House unanimously passed a resolution stating that the passport issue ‘would cause significant and unnecessary damage to tourism and trade in both countries’. Our leader John Tory initiated the resolution, and all parties in this House endorsed a call for action. Will the Minister inform the House, since that resolution passed six months ago, what specific actions he has taken to address this pending crisis in Ontario tourism?” he asked the Minister.

Tourism Minister Jim Bradley’s reply did not satisfy Mr. Arnott.

In his supplementary question, Mr. Arnott noted that there is a great deal of confusion as to when the travelling public will need a passport or if they will get turned back at the border. Then Mr. Arnott invited the Minister to work with him to help resolve the issues.

“I have arranged a meeting for this Friday with the new US Consul General, Mr. John Nay, to discuss the passport issue and Ontario tourism. Will the Minister join me for that meeting and work with me to help find solutions so that the deepening crisis in tourism can be reversed?” Mr. Arnott asked him in the House.

In his second response, the Minister was unwilling to accept the invitation.

“I’m disappointed that the Minister dismissed my invitation out of hand. He should be trying to work with all of Ontario’s tourism partners who are interested in the passport issue. That is the kind of leadership that we need to continue to bring to this issue,” Mr. Arnott concluded afterwards.