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Identity Cards in Canada |
Public Reaction to National Identity Cards
Immigration Minister Denis Coderre finds little support for a high-tech
ID card
With the exception of Immigration Minister Denis Coderre, it is hard to find support
among Canadians for a national identity card. Civil libertarians are clearly worried
about the prospect of the card turning into a defacto internal passport, which Canadian
citizens would be forced to carry with them at all times. Minorities are concerned that
the card will be used for racial profiling. Finally, there is the question of whether
a mandatory ID card would survive a Charter challenge.
Here are viewpoints from different segments of the population, some of who made presentations
to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration holding hearings
on the national identity card:
Politicians
Denis Coderre: In his address to the committee, Coderre made it clear
he favored a national identity card with biometric data. He gave several reasons for
supporting the card:
- It would strengthen national security.
- It would increase Canadians’ personal security by helping prevent identity fraud.
- It would improve the integrity of Canadian travel documents.
- Canada needs a national identification system. Right now responsibility for identification
documents is divided between the federal government and the provinces.
Coderre is not getting much support from his own party. Liberal MP John Bryden, a House
of Commons Immigration Committee member, said he believed the idea of identification
cards containing biometric data was quite controversial, and raised serious doubts about
a person’s right to privacy. He also ruled out a proposal to limit the requirement to
carry ID cards with biometric data to non-Canadian citizens. Bryden said forcing only
permanent residents to carry cards with biometric data would violate their equality
rights under the Charter.
Inky Mark: Progressive Conservative MP Inky Mark believes a national
identity card is a way to screen out terrorists and criminals while still encouraging
immigration. Mark believes immigrants are being unfairly picked on in the wake of the
terrorist attacks. “Canada needs immigrants,” Mark said in a recent article. “It’s time
to stop blaming our immigrants for the woes of our immigration system.” (Source:
“Don’t Blame the Immigrant,” from the Progressive
Conservative Party of Canada website).
Legal Experts
Constitutional lawyer Morris Manning has made several criticisms of a national identity
card with biometric data:
- It would violate the Charter of Rights.
- It would increase racial profiling.
- It would invade people’s privacy by creating a large database of personal information
on individuals.
- It would do little to help reduce identity fraud.
- It is not an effective way to fight terrorism.
Manning told the committee: “If you have to produce a card to buy a car, to get on
a plane, to travel across the country or even to walk the streets of Canada, then I
believe we have changed from a free to an unfree society.” (Source:
CBC News Online).
Lobby Groups
Like many others, Howard Pawley of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association is skeptical
about the need for a national ID card. “My immediate concern is that this is public
policy in a knee-jerk fashion, without thinking through the pros and cons, and we have
to be very careful to ensure that anything we do is effective.” (Source: CBC News Online).
Grassroots Women is a Canadian organization designed to “address the systematic political
and economic marginalization of working class women…” In their presentation before the
Committee, they argued that a national ID card would result in racial profiling, both
within Canada and at the American border. They believe a national ID card threatens
Canadian values of democracy, human rights, and freedom.
Canada’s Privacy Commissioner
In recent months, Privacy Commissioner George Radwanski has repeatedly expressed concern
that the federal government is placing national security above the privacy rights of
Canadians. On March 18th, Radwanski appeared before the House of Commons Committee.
Arguments he gave against the proposed national identity card include the following:
- There is no demonstrated need for it.
- It would not be effective in targeting terrorists or eliminating identity fraud.
Even biometric cards can be faked, and most identity fraud takes place by electronic
communications that don’t require an identity card, such as telephone and email.
- It has damaging implications for Canadians’ privacy rights by infringing on our
right to anonymity. The damage to privacy outweighs the possible benefits in identifying
terrorists.
- Having the card remain voluntary is not a realistic possibility.
- It would be expensive – up to $5 billion to implement.
- There is no public support for it.
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