Biometrics: Implications and Applications for Citizenship and Immigration

Report on a Forum hosted by
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
October 7 & 8, 2003 – Ottawa, Ontario

Table of Contents

Introduction

Annex I: Summary of Individual Presentations

• Opening Event Speech: Balancing Security and Civil Liberties – Prof. Alan Dershowitz
• Opening Remarks – The Honourable Denis Coderre
• Keynote Speaker: Biometrics Past, Present and Future – Dr. Colin Soutar

Panel Session 1: Biometrics in the International Context

• Martin Giles, Assistant Director, United Kingdom Immigration Services, Home Office
• Gillian Russell, Directorate General, Justice and Home Affairs, European Commission
• Dr. W. Russell Neuman, Senior Policy Advisor, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Gerry Van Kessel – Coordinator, Intergovernmental Consultations on Asylum, Refugee and Migration Policies in Europe, North America and Australia
• Luncheon Speaker – Frank Graves
• Afternoon Speaker: Privacy Issues – Stephanie Perrin

Panel Session 2: Biometrics – Understanding and Assessing the Implications

• Dr. Roger Gibbins, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canada West Foundation
• Jennifer Stoddart, Présidente, Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec
• Raj Nanavati, International Biometrics Group
• Raymonde Folco, Member of Parliament, Laval West
• Conclusions and Directions for Future Action – The Honourable Denis Coderre

Annex II: Agenda

Annex III: Registered Participants (as of October 6, 2003)

Annex IV: Table Discussion and Dialogue

Annex V: Summary of Public Policy Forum Background Paper

Annex VI: Summary of Instant Polling

ABOUT THE PUBLIC POLICY FORUM

Striving for Excellence in Government

The Public Policy Forum is an independent, non-profit organisation aimed at improving the quality of government in Canada through better dialogue between the public, privacy and voluntary sectors. The Forum’s members, drawn from businesses, federal and provincial governments, the voluntary sector and the labour movement, share a common belief that an efficient and effective public service is a key element in ensuring our quality of life and global competitive position.

Established in 1987, the Public Policy Forum has gained a reputation as a trusted, neutral facilitator, capable of bringing together a wide range of stakeholders in productive dialogue. Its research program provides a neutral base to inform collective decision-making. By promoting more information sharing and greater linkages between governments and other sectors, the Public Policy Forum ensures that Canada’s future directions become more dynamic, co-ordinated and responsive to the challenges and opportunities that lie before us.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

David Brown is Director, Special Projects, at the Public Policy Forum.

David Brook is an Associate of the Public Policy Forum

We would like to acknowledge the assistance of members of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Task Force on Document Integrity, in particular Peggi McNeil, Director, and of Milena Isakovic, Research Assistant at the Public Policy Forum.

The Public Policy Forum
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Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4
Tel.: (613) 238-7160
Fax: (613) 238-7990
www.ppforum.ca

Biometrics: Implications and Applications for Citizenship and Immigration is also available in Adobe Acrobat format [size: 176 K]

© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2004
Cat. no. Ci51-171/2004E-HTML
ISBN 0-662-37145-3

Prepared by the Public Policy Forum for Citizenship and Immigration Canada