Pubdate: Sat, 20 Oct 2012
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Tobi Cohen

CRITICS SLAM NEW BORDER RULES

Concerns Raised Over Privacy

OTTAWA - Critics fear that new border security measures in the latest 
federal budget bill may force visitors to Canada to reveal whether 
they're a drug user or have a communicable disease such as gonorrhea.

And because the measures are crammed into the sweeping bill that 
covers many unrelated topics, they may not get proper scrutiny, the 
critics say.

According to the budget implementation bill tabled this week, Canada 
is set to adopt the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system by 
2015 for people arriving by air from visa exempt countries, including 
many European nations.

A type of mini visa that could be issued online within minutes, ETAs 
already exist in the United States. Details about drug use and 
medical conditions are among the personal details the Americans seek 
from visitors.

While Australia also requires visitors to fill out an ETA, its 
version appears less invasive.

The Canadian initiative is part of the Beyond the Border perimeter 
security deal with the U.S. The deal signed last year explicitly 
states the Canadian ETA is to "mirror measures taken in the United 
States through its Electronic System for Travel Authorization."

The federal government argues the new tool will allow Canada to 
prevent inadmissible travellers such as failed refugee claimants, 
criminals and people on no-fly lists from entering the country since 
they'll be stopped before they buy their ticket or board a plane.

The government says it will speed up the processing of legitimate 
travellers and reduce costs related to having to remove inadmissible 
people after they arrive at the border.

Nancy Caron, a spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration, said it's 
too soon to say which questions the Canadian ETA will pose.

She said Canada has its own criteria and the questions don't 
necessarily have to conform to the U.S. version.

"We would not be screening travellers against the exact same criteria 
as the U.S. since the admissibility criteria under the Immigration 
and Refugee Protection Act are different than those of the U.S.' 
immigration law. There are no plans to harmonize these admissibility 
requirements," she said.

Critics, however, say this and other border security measures related 
to the U.S. deal raise all sorts of privacy, sovereignty and trade concerns.

"This is just, again, Harper acquiescing to U.S. demands around 
security and I think that's a problem," said Stuart Trew of the 
Council of Canadians, which has been critical of the Beyond the Border deal.

While government officials suggest 98 per cent of travellers to the 
U.S. are cleared for entry with no issues, Trew noted the two per 
cent that aren't can add up to a lot of people and that there's 
already evidence to suggest there are big problems with U.S. watch 
lists, against which travellers destined for Canada are likely to be 
scrutinized.

NDP public safety critic Randall Garrison said he supports the 
"principle" of electronic travel authorization systems which many 
countries have implemented successfully, but he has concerns about 
the U.S. version.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom