STATE SENATOR AND MPP SEE EYE TO EYE

(Brockville) – Cormorants, tourism, water levels, bridge traffic and the electronic monitoring of sex offenders were just a few of the issues discussed at a meeting Friday on Hill Island between New York State Senator James Wright and Leeds Grenville MPP Bob Runciman.

The meeting, the first of what the two politicians said would be an ongoing dialogue, was described as highly successful; by the participants.

“We’ve been working together for the past year in our efforts to see greater co-operation between New York State and Ontario officials on the cormorant issue and we’re beginning to see results,” said Runciman. “This meeting gave us the opportunity to discuss a range of issues where we can be of assistance to each other.”

On the tourism front, both Wright and Runciman endorsed the concept of a standardized, high security, driver’s licence with biometric identifiers as the best alternative to current plans to require passports for entry into the U.S.

“The U.S. is in the process of standardizing driver’s licences and it would make sense for this to be a joint standardized U.S./Canada initiative,” said Wright.

Wright and Runciman also called on U.S. and Canadian officials to install a “trusted traveller lane” at the 1000 Islands Bridge under the NEXUS program. The program, already in use at other border crossings, allows pre-screened regular users of the border to pass quickly.

The politicians plan to get together again later this year.