Since the world,seemingly, went on red alert following the the horrors of September 11th. The security measures being followed by our own government are, totally irresponsible at best.bDisasterous at worst. Our borders are left open to any religious fanatic carrying anything from a bomb to the plague( before you say anything, I'm not religious. Fanatical, yes. Religious. Never! ).
Canada it seems has taken steps to ensure that their population come first. Nursemaid to the world, second.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: A YEAR LATER
The Government of Canada, through its many departments and agencies, is actively improving the security of Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has always made public safety a priority.
Since September 11, we have carried out the following activities.
Implemented the new Immigration and Refugee
Protection Act
Introduced the new, fraud-resistant Permanent Resident Card
Created an Intelligence Branch within CIC
Added overseas screening officers
Lifted visa exemptions
Established the Advanced Passenger Information (API) system and the Canadian
Passenger Analysis Units (CPAUs)
Purchased state-of-the-art equipment
Initiated earlier CSIS security checks on refugee claimants
Started negotiating a Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S.
Led many G8 initiatives to enhance security
1. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
The new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which came into effect on June 28, while facilitating the movement of legitimate travellers, gives Canada more tools to ensure that security threats do not gain access to or stay in Canada. The new Act does the following:
allows us to remove security threats sooner;
imposes harsher penalties for people using or selling forged or false documents;
and
denies security threats access to our refugee determination process.
2. New fraud-resistant card for permanent residents
We began issuing a new Permanent Resident Card. The card is highly resistant to alteration or duplication because it includes a laser-engraved photograph and signature and many other security features.
3. Intelligence Branch
The events of September 11 made all countries aware of the importance of sharing intelligence information. While our department had an intelligence function before September 11, an Intelligence Branch was recently created to provide a focal point for intelligence gathering, analysis, and sharing of intelligence on immigration cases and migration trends with our partners inside and outside Canada. The branch will maintain and develop new intelligence partnerships with the security and intelligence community in support of the Government of Canada's public security needs. Ultimately, the work done by the Intelligence Branch will continue to help prevent people who may pose a threat to public safety from entering Canada.
4. Additional overseas screening officers
We recently expanded to 48 (from 44) the network of immigration control officers overseas who stop people attempting to travel to Canada with counterfeit, altered or false documents. Security risks and criminals often use forged documents to travel. These officers make it more difficult for such people to gain access to Canada. In fact, over the past six years, officers have stopped more than 40,000 people abroad attempting to travel to Canada with improper documents. Due to this success, the number of officers has been increasing steadily since they were first put in place in 1989.
5. Lifting of visa exemptions
Generally, people from every country need a visa to visit Canada, unless their country has been exempted from this requirement. In some cases, Canada decides there is a need to lift the visa exemption. Since September 11, we have lifted visa exemptions on several countries that sell their citizenship or use questionable passport-issuing practices, or where there is a high incidence of people travelling to Canada with improper documents.
A visa is an effective way to protect the integrity of Canada's immigration and refugee protection programs. A visa allows us to screen out travellers who pose a concern before they arrive in Canada.
6. Advanced Passenger Information (API) system and Canadian Passenger Analysis Units (CPAUs)
After September 11, the Government of Canada recognized the benefits of receiving passenger information before an international flight arrives in Canada. The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) and CIC have been working in close partnership to put the Advance Passenger Information (API) system in place.
By receiving information before the flight arrives, Canadian Passenger Analysis Units (CPAUs) -- made up of Canadian customs and immigration officers -- will be able to verify whether anyone on the flight is of concern. Passengers who are of concern will be referred for an in-depth interview.
We will also undertake a similar initiative with our U.S. counterparts.
7. State-of-the-art equipment
We purchased digital fingerprint machines for our major border offices and offices in Canada. The machines will capture fingerprints and send them electronically to the RCMP for further checks. This system is faster and more accurate than the traditional ink-on-paper method.
In addition, we purchased document readers for our major border offices and offices in Canada as an additional tool to check document authenticity. This technology will complement the manual verifications currently done by officers using UV lights and other tools.
8. Security checks on refugee claimants
CSIS security checks on all refugee claimants are initiated sooner. Previously, CSIS checks were done when a claimant caused security concerns or when a claimant found to be a refugee applied for permanent residence.
Officers interview all claimants to verify their background and past activities; to check information against several databases, including the police database; to fingerprint and photograph the claimants; and to seize original travel documents.
9. Safe Third Country Agreement
As part of the Smart Border Declaration signed after September 11, Canada and the U.S. agreed to negotiate a Safe Third Country Agreement. Once in place, this agreement will allow Canada to send back to the U.S. refugee claimants who travelled through the U.S. on their way to Canada. It will also allow the U.S. to send back to Canada refugee claimants who travelled through Canada on their way to the U.S. Ultimately, it will reduce the misuse of our asylum systems and will free up resources that we could use to address other security concerns.
10. G8 initiatives to enhance security
We continue to participate in many other counterterrorism efforts inside and outside Canada.
Our participation in G8 initiatives is particularly significant given that, in the days following September 11, the G8 leaders strongly stated their commitment to preventing and combating terrorism. This year, Canada is president of the G8, and CIC is playing a leading role in coordinating efforts to prevent the movement of terrorists and security threats. Specifically, CIC is working to do the following:
improve and promote better security standards
around the world for travel and identity documents;
improve the way people are examined as they cross international borders; and
improve the way G8 countries share intelligence, particularly intelligence relating
to the use of fraudulent documents.
Data supplied by Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Godsquid
(The Fight) (Genesis) (Sermons) (Humour) (Charities) (The High Priest) (Galleries) (Advice)
Sign Guestbook View Guestbook Or better still contact me