OTTAWA — The federal Conservatives unveiled a litany of security measures in the 2008 budget, including details of the so-called "electronic passport" expected to be issued to Canadians around 2011.
The new, more secure passports will last twice as long - the government plans to double the validity period for the travel documents to 10 years. Another $6-million will go to provinces and territories working on enhanced drivers' licences.
A large chunk of the remaining security-related items appear to be aimed directly at foreigners, such as a proposal that would increase Canada's capacity to collect intelligence abroad and demand biometric data such as fingerprints from many overseas visitors.
The Communications Security Establishment will receive $43-million over the next two years. The CSE is charged with collecting signals intelligence - essentially listening in to various forms of communications abroad. The money is intended to update the agency's equipment and boost its manpower to keep up with advancements in technology.
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Internet Links
- Full coverage: The 2008 Conservative budget
- Interactive: The Budget 2008: The priorities
- Interactive: Highlights
Increased scrutiny of foreigners is a central part of the government's plan for Canadian border protection. The Canadian Border Services Agency receives $75-million over two years in the new budget, which also includes provisions that would make biometric data a requirement for any foreigner travelling to Canada on a visa.
The requirement, if approved, is expected to kick in around 2009 or 2010.
On the home front, there's a $400-million infusion for provinces and territories to hire about 2,500 new front-line officers over the next five years.
But that amount is budgeted from the 2007-08 period.
The budget earmarks $122-million over two years to help overhaul the Correctional Service of Canada. The relatively new Public Prosecution Service of Canada also receives a cash infusion. The service is set to receive $32-million over the next two years.
The government is also proposing $60-million over the next two years for the National Crime Prevention Strategy, which focuses on such issues as youth gang- and drug-related crime.
Liberal national-security critic Ujjal Dosanjh said the security portion of the budget focuses predominantly on back-end solutions - correctional and prosecution services - without putting as much emphasis on crime prevention.
"That's the only major approach they have to tackle crime and border issues," Mr. Dosanjh said, "to spend more money on jails or guns."
The government also announced $720-million for a new Polar-class icebreaker to patrol Arctic waters.
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