Having just got the passports for, what, 89 bucks on a three week turn around mailed to my house, it was a bit funny to read about this effort this morning:
Transportation Minister Jim Bradley unveiled the new licences yesterday, acknowledging that everyone who wants one will "probably not" get one by the deadline because 15-minute interviews required as part of the application process won't begin until May 19... The licences, which cost $40 on top of the $75 licence fee, are available only at ServiceOntario centres in nine major cities – not at transportation ministry licence bureaus.
So they cost more, came out too late, may take longer to process and are only available to certain Ontarians. Dare I say chalk one to the Federal Conservatives for their better response to the new border crossing rules coming in at the end of the month? I suppose these sorts of things are good enough for those without Watertown Wizards games to attend but with the home opener on June 4th who really can afford the risk?.
Comments
Ben (The Tiger) - May 6, 2009 10:58 AM
This issue -- once again -- makes me angry.
When it's just as hard to get these special driver's licenses as it is to get a passport (or harder), why don't people just get their damned passports.
It isn't rocket science, and a passport is not a magical document that will take away your manhood.
Glad to see that you've been sensible.
***
But really, a grown citizen of a modern Western country _should_ keep his passport renewed. You never know when you'll have a chance to travel unexpectedly.
Renee - May 6, 2009 11:37 AM
I will continue using my passport because the stamps from Malaysia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam are such great conversation starters. Those border guards love to shoot the shit.
seanie - May 6, 2009 7:37 PM
I haven't had reason or desire to travel to the US since 1998 and I don't see it happening, unless work related (which is highly unlikely given our plethora of work in Canada). I therefore will hold off getting a passport until absolutely necessary. There is plenty to see in Canada that I have not yet seen.
Alan - May 6, 2009 9:20 PM
Yes, nice to know you were born in the right land for you. There's cheap land in PEI for that attitude.
Ben (The Tiger) - May 6, 2009 10:23 PM
Fine for those who do not wish to travel abroad not to have a passport.
I'm just very, very tired of hearing Canadians who want to travel to the States whining about how terrible it is that they might have to get a passport, and looking for any way possible to avoid getting one.
Alan - May 6, 2009 10:35 PM
I remember an old coot who would phone into CBC radio on PEI once in a while to proudly state that she would never leave PEI (and probably her county within PEI) because of all the terrible things that happened outside of PEI (and probably her county within PEI).
Making a decision about what you would or wouldn't like to experience based on admitted ignorance of what you don't know is stunningly dumb. Get a passport and take a chance, old PEI coots.
Ben (The Tiger) - May 7, 2009 9:00 AM
Well, if people don't want to travel, by Gum, they ought not to travel.
Keep airplane tickets cheaper for the rest of us...
Alan - May 7, 2009 9:55 AM
What? Volume means discounts. All these naval gazers are money and time to you and me.