SPP Deal Could Create Common Border Standards

The goal is to ensure none of the three countries is a weak link in the continental security chain. While Ottawa, Washington and Mexico City say this will make citizens safer, critics charge it is a secretive bid to bolster the corporate agenda without public or parliamentary debate. The three countries are: * Working on biometric systems -- incorporating unique identifiers like iris scans and fingerprints -- to improve the security for passports, visas, permanent resident cards, transportation credentials and other border documents. * Implementing immigration measures that include requirements for admission and length of stay, visa decision-making standards, border lookout systems for wanted individuals, and the possibility of entry and exit procedures, and * Devising ways to share data on high-risk travellers such as suspected terrorists and other criminals. Dozens of other initiatives deal with aviation, cargo and maritime security, protection of crops and livestock, and increased law-enforcement and intelligence co-operation... Full article: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070820/spp_border_070820/20070820?hub=Politics [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on August 22, 2007]

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