Passport Canada receives $5.3-million in additional funding

News Release

October 18, 2005
Gatineau, Quebec -- The federal government has approved $5.3-million in one-time funding to Passport Canada, in order to address recommendations in the Auditor General's April 2005 Report.
"The Government of Canada continues working towards enhancing the security and integrity of the Canadian passport and all Canadian identity documents," said Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew. "The Canadian Passport is a highly valued document and I am happy to see Passport Canada will use these additional funds to significantly improve its management practices, as well as address the many recommendations made by the Auditor General."
Among a number of projects funded by this initiative, Passport Canada will:
Create new Regional Security Units to ensure open and regular two-way communication between the regions and headquarters. It will allow Passport Canada to better understand the security environment across the organization.
Implement a Modern Case Management System to assist in Passport Canada investigations. Such a system will enable Passport Canada to manage and more closely monitor security case files referred for investigation.
Implement an Activity-Based Management Model. This will allow Passport Canada to clearly show how user fees are established and will provide access to high-quality management information.
Passport Canada has already responded to several of the Auditor General's findings, including signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Correctional Service Canada that provides access to electronic information on individuals who may not be eligible for passport services, as well as developing refresher and specialized training for passport examiners and consular staff.
Passport Canada finances its activities entirely through fees charged for the issuance of passports and other travel documents. Passport Canada requested the additional funding because the demand for additional security in both passport products as well as passport issuing processes has driven up Passport Canada's operational costs. The organization has not been able to fund the additional projects internally.
The demand for passport services continues to increase at an unprecedented level. In 2001, Passport Canada issued 2-million passports. Forecasts project the numbers will reach more than 3-million passports in 2005.
Passport Canada is a Special Operating Agency of Foreign Affairs Canada. Its mission is to facilitate travel for Canadians by delivering internationally respected travel documents that meet the highest security standards in the world.
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Passport Canada receives $5.3-million in additional funding

News Release

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