Hi Ivamae
I'm absolutely positive we still need to have passports. In fact, my step-father just renewed his this week, and they just go to Michigan for a couple days in the summer.

You do not currently need a passport to enter the U.S., we do it all the time. You will have to by June, however, some people say that deadline will be extended. I don't know, but here's a link:

Here is a link that might be useful: Canadian passport required?

Here is a link from the governemnt showing what documents are acceptable for travel to the US. Looks like there will be an enhanced drivers license in some proveinces that will be accepted but for land travel only, not for flying. You need a passport for that (or a Nexus card, whatever that is).

Here is a link that might be useful: Government page

A NEXUS card is "designed to expedite the border clearance process for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States". They have their own lane at border crossing (at least at Fort Erie they do).
And yes, you will need a passport to travel to the US after June.

Yes we need passports. We are gtavelling to NYC next month by air and we were told we need passports. Of course our passports had expired so we've been scrambling around trying to get them. We were told they are on their way, hopefully before we go.

BJ

The new rules apply to everyone entering the United States by land INCLUDING Americans returning home from Canada.
I got my Nexus card quite a few months ago. It costs $50 which is less than a passport and it's only valid for travel between Canada and the USA in both directions. You have to fill in all the paperwork which takes a month or so to be verified and then you have to go for an interview at a customs office and be photographed and fingerprinted by both a US and Canada Customs officer all in the same office. All the rules are explained and you sign off on them.
There are Nexus car lanes at all the border crossings which allows you to bypass the lineups and generally you're only stopped for a cursory look to see if you are in fact the person on the card. The card has a chip in it and their are scanners as you drive through the Nexus gates which instantly pops your picture and details onto the border guards screen.
Every person in the vehicle using the Nexus lane/gates MUST have their own Nexus card including children. Failing to do so means the driver, who is responsible for ensuring his/her passengers have one, WILL lose their Nexus card permanently.
Another little feature. If you are returning home to Canada from another country by air other than Canada or the USA you can use your Nexus card and avoid the long lineups at the airport. Not sure if this applies to Americans returning home or not.
Oh and something else.. since you are basically bypassing Customs any purchases you make in the USA must be written down on a form and deposited in the drive-thru box re-entering your country. They have your credit card number on file and if there's any taxes or duties owing on the goods they will charge them against your credit card automatically. I buy plenty of groceries and other things in Michigan and have never yet been charged any taxes or duties on my credit card.
It's very convenient and sure beats sitting in a lineup for hours some days.
Since I'm only 1/2 mile from the border I can just drive over, do grocery shopping etc and be back home sometimes in less than 45 minutes whereas if I had to lineup it would be an all morning deal.

BTW in all that I was basically talking about car travel back and forth. It's also used for air travel. You bypass the long lineups for Canada Customs and US Customs thru a special gate. If you plan on using a Nexus card for air travel you have to have your iris's scanned as well as the fingerprints. At the airport when you go thru the Nexus gate you look into the scanner for verification.

Wasn't clear. The Nexus card is in lieu of having a passport. You don't need to have a passport if you have the card since the Nexus card actually has more personal and biometric data about you than any passport does.

Is the Nexus card acceptable after the first of June?

I'm pretty sure that it is, Iva Mae ... especially for land travel, but I think for air travel, as well.

There's a passport office in London, second floor of Planmar building, n e corner Colborne and York, just north of the tracks, kitty-corner to the Free Press. They'll know.

I may have some material here that includes a phone no. to call to find out - will check.

Passport is $87.00.

One used to have a guarantor on the app. who knew you and was in a limited number of professions ... but now, any person with a passport can do it, and one needs a couple of references who have known one for over 2 years.

I got mine about a week after the app. went in - I was surprised, as it took a long time, not many months ago. There's often been a lineup there, but the room was pretty well empty, the day that I was there, about a month before Christmas.

Hey - the pic even looks remotely like me ... you remember - like the ones that Caroline and Wes took, last summer.

ole joyful

Yes the Nexus card is valid. It replaces a passport and is preferable to a passport for cross border travel between Canada and the USA by air or land and does not require that you have a passport at all. The card is good for 5 years and then you renew it.
A passport does NOT entitle you to breeze thru the Nexus lanes. Passport holders still have to go thru the regular lineups and are subject to more scrutiny and questioning.
Nexus card holders are subject to random thorough checks as well and those are to be expected to keep the system honest.