(File photo)
Federal legislation is being enacted today which allows Canadian and U.S. border services to share basic information on travelers passing through land-based ports of entry.
Beginning July 11, Canada and the U.S. will exchange basic biographic entry information including full names and dates of birth on “all travelers at the land border, so that entry into one country serves as an exit record from the other,” states the Canada Border Services Agency in a press release.
“This initiative will help Canada make better, timely decisions on border management, law enforcement, national security, citizenship applications, immigration, and social services.”
The change stems from Bill C-21, An Act to amend the Customs Act, which allows the CBSA to collect “exit information” on people leaving Canada including Canadians.
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That information is typically found on the second page of a passport, as well, the exit information will include the date, time and location of people exiting the country.
“The collection and exchange of basic biographic information will be seamless to travelers. The CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have signed an information sharing memorandum of understanding, which includes safeguards and protections on the exchange of biographic entry data for entry/exit by land mode only,” the press release states. “Information will be collected, used and disclosed in accordance with the Privacy Act and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The use of this information is restricted to specific purposes by law.”
Regulatory amendments for those who leave the country by air are expected to come into force in Summer 2020. Once fully implemented, Canada will collect basic exit information directly from air carriers through passenger manifests but will not share them with the U.S.
