U.S. ambassador rules out open border with Canada, cites sovereignty

SURREY, B.C. – The U.S. ambassador to Canada says a European Union like arrangement where citizens can freely cross national borders is not in the cards on this side of the Atlantic.

David Jacobson says each European country has had to partially surrender sovereignty and he doesn’t think the U.S. or Canada would be willing to do that.

Jacobson made the comments while speaking to students at Simon Fraser University in Surrey, B.C.

Both countries have signed the Beyond the Border pact, which is designed to speed trade across the 49th parallel while protecting the continent from terrorist threats. (CKNW/The Canadian Press)