Harper critical of U.S. ‘inspection fees’ for Canadians

Will we soon have to pay $5.50 to cross the border by plane or boat?

President Barack Obama says he wants to charge all Canadians entering the states by air or sea, but the fee wouldn’t apply to private vehicles.
Regardless, Prime Minster Stephen Harper doesn’t like the sound of it.
He says there are better ways for Americans to raise money than to charge Canadians to get into their country.
Continued below video:

“The United States has a budgetary situation that is horrendous. They’re running deficits down there well over a trillion dollars a year. Some 40 per cent plus of American spending is financed by borrowing.”
“I think it’s clear that the U.S. government is casting around for ways to raise revenue.”
According to Statistics Canada, 16 million Canadians flew into the U.S. in 2009.
At $5.50 each that adds up to $88,000,000 for the Americans – but the move may actually end up taking money out of the country’s economy.
The head of the Snowbirds Association says he doesn’t think the fee will prevent Canadians from traveling south — but they may spend less when they get there.