In a move that’s straining already stressed Canada-U.S. relations, Canadians travelling by air or boat to the United States face a new $5.50 surcharge being implemented by the Obama administration. For all the Canadians who we’re apart of the “We Want Change” movement, well uh..
Our P.M Harper and Obama are battling and are now at odds over the surcharge on Canadians, Mexicans and others traveling stateside. A provision in the U.S.-Colombia free-trade deal officially signed into law Friday by President Barack Obama will see the Americans repeal an exemption that has excluded travelers from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean from paying the customs user fee to enter the United States by air or sea.
The “passenger inspection” levy — which first surfaced early this year — would apply to all commercial air and marine travelers from Canada, Mexico and Caribbean nations, and would be added on to the cost of an airplane or boat ticket.
The countries have long been exempt from the fee, but the cash-strapped U.S. government — which is facing a $1-trillion deficit — expects to collect about $110 million annually from the tax.
The new levy, which takes effect within two weeks, will not apply to Canadians crossing the border into the U.S. in their vehicles. Nevertheless, the Harper government is not impressed with the fee and is vowing to fight it.
Approximately seven million Canadians flew to the United States in 2010, according to Statistics Canada, while more than 150,000 traveled by boat.
So to help cover up the deficit the stupid Americans got themselves into, there going to charge us, that make’s complete sense…
