Edmonton, Alberta, July 6, 2005 - The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, launched the CANPASS Air program today at the Edmonton International Airport.
"While we want secure borders, we know that the timely and efficient flow of goods and travellers is critical to our economy," said Minister McLellan. "The Government of Canada is committed to facilitating the legitimate flow of secure cargo and people at our ports of entry. CANPASS Air is helping to streamline the secure movement of trusted travellers into Canada and I am pleased it is now available at Edmonton International Airport."
CANPASS Air allows pre-approved travellers to meet their border clearance obligations by simply looking into a camera that recognizes the iris of the eye as proof of identity. The iris recognition technology used in this program is new, innovative, and secure. It is non-invasive and is considered one of the most accurate and quickest biometric identifiers in the world.
"CANPASS Air offers a quick and efficient way for travellers to take advantage of the worldwide network accessible through our eight non-stop U.S. hubs," says Reg Milley, President and CEO of Edmonton Airports and CANPASS member. This state of the art security feature will offer a more streamlined process to many of the 500,000 travellers flying between Edmonton and the United States annually."
CANPASS Air is open to citizens and permanent residents of Canada and the United States. The processing fee is CAN $50, and membership is valid for one year. Application forms are checked against Canadian law enforcement databases to determine eligibility for the program.
CANPASS Air is also available in Calgary, Halifax, Montréal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg and will soon be implemented in Ottawa.
In addition to offering improved service to the travelling public, CANPASS Air enables CBSA officers to concentrate their efforts on potentially higher-risk travellers and goods, thereby upholding security and protection standards at the border.
The Government of Canada and the CBSA in particular are working actively to ensure the latest technologies are used to secure our borders while facilitiating and increasing trade and travel between Canada and the US, Mexico and elsewhere.
For more information or to obtain a copy of the application form, please visit: www.cbsa.gc.ca/canpass
For media information
Loretta Nyhus
CBSA Communications
(204) 770-7494
