Canada to charge many foreign tourists a fee for a proposed electronic security screening plan

Citizenship and Immigration is accepting feedback on the plan until mid-January.
Extract:

The federal government is soliciting public comment on the plan to introduce online travel applications as part of the sweeping perimeter security pact with the United States.

Foreign nationals who currently do not need a visa to visit Canada — including people from Britain, France and many other countries — would have to successfully apply for an electronic travel authorization before arriving by air.

U.S. citizens would be exempted from the new requirement.  news.yahoo.com

CTV:

Those not approved by the electronic system would be referred to an officer for further examination and a decision.
The government plans to charge a "cost recovery" fee -- how much isn't specified, but it would be a "minimal amount," the notice says. Approved applications would be valid for multiple entries to Canada over a period of up to five years.
"We're never in favour of new traveller taxes," said David Goldstein, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada.
However, he applauded the federal effort to catch up to other countries by using technology to modernize the application system for foreign visitors. Continue reading