The recently passed federal budget bill modifying dozens of acts contains a provision that will further the digitization of the border. Bill C-47, which runs close to 400 pages, received royal assent on June 22 and modifies the Customs Acts to “allow a person arriving in Canada to present themselves to the Canada Border Services…

A digital identity verification system could be soon set up in the United States, with the legislation behind the initiative now progressing to the Senate for debate. Introduced by Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), the S.884 bill is known as the “Improving Digital Identity Act of 2023” and was introduced in the…

The number of travellers who use ArriveCAN to submit their advance customs declaration when entering Canada has dropped 50 percent since the system stopped being mandatory for COVID-19 purposes last fall, says the border agency. September was the last month ArriveCAN was mandatory to track the vaccination status and quarantine plans of travellers, with 31…

Air Canada announced on Feb. 21 that a digital credential using facial recognition technology can now be used to board select flights from Vancouver to Winnipeg and to get access to its café at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The program is touted as secure and convenient with a planned expansion to other airports and Air…

Canada’s provinces have agreed to facilitate the sharing of health information as a condition of receiving more federal transfers, a commitment that has potential benefits but which also raises concerns. On Feb. 13, the provinces agreed to $196 billion in transfers from the federal government, of which $46 billion would be new money. To access…

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she agrees with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe that the “private health information” of the people of their provinces should be protected. “I agree and stand firmly with [Premier Moe] in protecting Albertans’ private health information,” Smith said in a Twitter post on Feb. 10. “I will ensure that any agreements with…

As part of a $2.4 million contract, the federal government Privy Council Office commissioned focus group research on “digital credentials” on Aug. 24, 2022. On Aug. 4, 2022, the same month the focus group was commissioned, a government report, titled “Canada’s Digital Ambition 2022,” announced the Liberals planned to introduce digital infrastructure. “The next step in making…

The initiative launched by the World Economic Forum (WEF) to test the use of digital credentials in travel with the participation of Canada and the Netherlands has been finalized, says the Dutch government, which is now planning a new digital identity project with Ottawa. This news comes after Transport Canada recently told The Epoch Times…

Leaders of the Group of 20 (G-20) have issued a joint declaration promoting a global standard on proof of vaccination for international travel and calling for the establishment of “global digital health networks” that build on existing digital COVID-19 vaccine passport schemes. The joint statement followed the conclusion of the G-20 summit held in Bali,…

Critics of the ongoing plans to expand Australia’s digital identity system are warning it could eventually be used to restrict the liberties of its citizens—in a way akin to that already employed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Currently, using a digital ID—known as myGovID—in Australia is optional and has been rolled out for federal…