Everyone's in a tizzy since the Americans announced they're considering charging a fee to Canadian border crossers.
While bridges across the Lower Mainland, including the one between Maple Ridge and Langley, are springing up with tolls, we've always taken it for granted that a trip to the States will be gratis. Well, for a certain value of free.
A border crossing fee, especially one of $1 to $10, won't deter anyone from making a once-a-year trip to see Disneyland or their American friends or relatives. But there are those who cross the border every day - truckers, mostly, but some folks choose to live in Canada and work in the U.S., or vice versa.
Then there are those who cross once a week or so, to get cheap gas, maybe pick up some milk and eggs.
For those frequent crossers, it will be the equivalent of a significant toll. Even a dollar a day adds up - especially if the exchange rate slips over the years.
That's in addition to the non-monetary costs we've endured along the borders over the past decade. Increased security has meant the need for more ID, including passports or enhanced driver's licenses.
If the U.S. puts a border toll in place, they'll be taking a small chunk out of the Canadian economy.
We could put up a tit-for-tat fee of our own - but that would also hurt us. Do we want to discourage American tourists and film crews from coming up here and pouring money into our coffers? Definitely not.
It's been decades now since we had our debate about free trade with the U.S. It's ironic that, with free trade thoroughly entrenched, the United States is now considering putting a price on the movement of individuals through the world's longest undefended border.
