Meanwhile, in Canada

[temporal1]

We essentially had that before 9-11. I traveled back and forth to Canada with nothing but a driver’s license and was seldom asked even for that. We essentially had a passport free area. 9-11 paranoia changed that.

yes. and, most all people everywhere respected borders as the normal+desirable way of life, with or without drivers licenses or passports. no formal education required to grasp the concept.

[Robert]

We essentially had that before 9-11. I traveled back and forth to Canada with nothing but a driver’s license and was seldom asked even for that. We essentially had a passport free area. 9-11 paranoia changed that.

I remember the time three of us drove into Canadia. On the way back, we stopped at the border crossing. I Border officer asked for my ID and asked where I lived, I pointed to the other side and said "Over there." He just shook his head, gave me back my ID and said go on. I think they were glad to get rid of me.

[JimFoxvog]

Open borders is what we have had for the past four years.

When I see this stuff about open borders, I usually just discount everything else the writer includes. I do not think there are any facts supporting this allegation; it's just a right-wing political talking point.

How about talking about insufficient control at the border instead?

[R7ehr]

Open borders is what we have had for the past four years.

When I see this stuff about open borders, I usually just discount everything else the writer includes. I do not think there are any facts supporting this allegation; it's just a right-wing political talking point.

How about talking about insufficient control at the border instead?

Would you accept “porous border” as a descriptor?

[JimFoxvog]

Would you accept “porous border” as a descriptor?

Sure. It's always been a porous border. "Open border" incorrectly suggests that's the intention.

[Ken]

Open borders is what we have had for the past four years.

When I see this stuff about open borders, I usually just discount everything else the writer includes. I do not think there are any facts supporting this allegation; it's just a right-wing political talking point.

How about talking about insufficient control at the border instead?

Would you accept “porous border” as a descriptor?

No, it is not really a porous border if by porous you mean open to illicit trade, smuggling, etc.

The US/Canadian border is highly regulated and I would guess that 99.999% of the goods, services, and people that cross it daily do so orderly and legally.

It is not a sealed border or militarized border because we are at peace and have normalized relations with Canada along with free trade and movement of people. But say you wanted to smuggle a truck load of wheat into Canada (or truck load of anything for that matter). I think you will find the border to be quite real.

[Ken]

We essentially had that before 9-11. I traveled back and forth to Canada with nothing but a driver’s license and was seldom asked even for that. We essentially had a passport free area. 9-11 paranoia changed that.

I remember the time three of us drove into Canadia. On the way back, we stopped at the border crossing. I Border officer asked for my ID and asked where I lived, I pointed to the other side and said "Over there." He just shook his head, gave me back my ID and said go on. I think they were glad to get rid of me.

Before 9-11 some of the back-roads border crossings between Alaska and the Yukon were essentially unmanned. You got to the border and there was a sign telling you to check into the government office in the next town if you had something to declare. They stopped doing that after 9-11 but they still didn’t actually man the border. The border checkpoints were still in the nearest towns. It’s not like you could drive around. There was just one road surrounded by muskeg. So if you were crossing into Canada or Alaska you would not get to the border checkpoint until you entered the nearest towns often tens of miles past the actual border.

[R7ehr]

When I see this stuff about open borders, I usually just discount everything else the writer includes. I do not think there are any facts supporting this allegation; it's just a right-wing political talking point.

How about talking about insufficient control at the border instead?

Would you accept “porous border” as a descriptor?

No, it is not really a porous border if by porous you mean open to illicit trade, smuggling, etc.

The US/Canadian border is highly regulated and I would guess that 99.999% of the goods, services, and people that cross it daily do so orderly and legally.

It is not a sealed border or militarized border because we are at peace and have normalized relations with Canada along with free trade and movement of people. But say you wanted to smuggle a truck load of wheat into Canada (or truck load of anything for that matter). I think you will find the border to be quite real.

How about the Southern border?

[ohio jones]

How about the Southern border?

Wouldn't that be off topic for this thread?

For once, Ken is the one paying attention to the subject line.

[temporal1]

2025:

wow.

BREAKING: Chrystia Freeland resigns as Minister of Finance / -6min


Pierre Poilievre Is For The People / -10min


LIVE: Pierre Poilievre Speaks to Reporters in Ottawa / 12min

Related topic:

“Is the Canadian government in chaos?”
viewtopic.php?t=7438

Global News.ca / After days of tumult, what’s next for Trudeau? His options, explained
https://globalnews.ca/news/10925498/jus ... l-turmoil/

Here's a link to a nothing article from a "leans left" Canadian News source.

2025 Related topic:

Trudeau is stepping down
viewtopic.php?t=7480

From my distant view, PIERRE POILIEVRE (PAUL-EE-EV) is encouraging for Canada.
He looks strong, i don’t believe it’s decided. He appeared earlier on P.42.

i hope JT will not commit his final days to sabotage of the following leadership. That’s a bad look.

On a human side, i hope he has competent personal help as he adjusts to the many changes in his life. Big changes.
If i understand, his wife left him not long ago, recently, Ms Freeland left her position, now this decision, altho voluntary.
These are hard things, even one at a time.

This news makes me remember JACINDA ARDERN, New Zealand.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jacinda-Ardern