Statement made on 11 December 2009 by Senator Joan Fraser
Hon. Joan Fraser:
Honourable senators, my question is for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. For years now, the Government of Canada has known that, with the thickening of the American border, with their new security initiatives, more documentation will be required for Canadians crossing the border from Canada into the United States.
In particular, there is a requirement in the United States for new native identity cards for Canadian status Indians. They are to have new secure status Indian cards. This initiative was supposed to be in effect last June, and the Americans gave us a six-month grace period, but here we are, coming up to the end of 2009, and no new cards have been issued.
Can the minister tell us why and when the new cards will be issued? They are vital pieces of documentation for those status Indians.
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