Yeah.... ever since 9/11, many border guards on the US side started demanding passports from Canadians, even though legally it was not yet a requirement. So, many Canadian border posts started "tit-for-tat" action. Canadians were warned quite a few years ago to always take along a passport just in case it was asked for, even though it wasn't always technically necessary. The first legal change required passports only from Cdn landed immigrants, not Cdn-born citizens like me. Border relations have been strained for a while now, especially since US border guards got the right to give life-long bans to entering the US with only the additional say-so of their superior. No way to appeal, either.

My response has simply been to stay away from the USA, and do everything possible never to have to transit through a US airport. Not because I hate the USA and Americans. I just hate the hassle and long line-ups.