Canada, U.S. to work more closely on refugees, immigration data sharing | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Canada, U.S. to work more closely on refugees, immigration data sharing

OTTAWA - Newly declassified documents show Canada and the United States plan to co-operate on "irregular flows" of refugees that turn up in North America or migrate within the continent.

By 2014, the two countries will also begin routinely sharing biometric information about travellers, such as fingerprints.

And Canada is laying the groundwork for legislative and regulatory changes that will require all travellers — including Canadian and U.S. citizens — to present a secure document such as a passport or enhanced driver's licence when entering Canada.

The initiatives are described in Citizenship and Immigration briefing notes that flesh out the Canada-U.S. security agreement announced late last year.

The perimeter security deal — to be phased in over several years — aims to smooth the passage of goods and people across the 49th parallel while bolstering defences along the continental border.

The briefing notes, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, provide fresh details about how the two countries will co-operate more closely on documenting the movement of citizens and visitors.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2012
The Canadian Press

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