[Marcarc]

Passports are one thing, the US was bending towards that anyway. That's not something that has anything to do with US. Canada can't say 'you need a passport to LEAVE'. Most travellers already have them, the biggest impact will be on those who regularly travel, but then, that's life.<br /> <br /> We already have a national ID-namely social insurance number, so look at that idea to die on the table. There's no way a party that is looking to dismantle an expensive gun registry will get away with setting up ANOTHER superfluous registry-conservatives aren't that stupid. <br /> <br /> Plus, just like with the gun registry it all would rely on provincial co-operation, which just ain't going to happen. That's so far down the list it isn't even discussed. So don't expect this one to go far.

[Roy_Whyte]

[QUOTE BY= Marcarc] Passports are one thing, the US was bending towards that anyway. That's not something that has anything to do with US. Canada can't say 'you need a passport to LEAVE'. Most travellers already have them, the biggest impact will be on those who regularly travel, but then, that's life.<br /> <br /> We already have a national ID-namely social insurance number, so look at that idea to die on the table. There's no way a party that is looking to dismantle an expensive gun registry will get away with setting up ANOTHER superfluous registry-conservatives aren't that stupid. <br /> <br /> Plus, just like with the gun registry it all would rely on provincial co-operation, which just ain't going to happen. That's so far down the list it isn't even discussed. So don't expect this one to go far.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> There is a large leap between your social insurance card and a national biometric ID card. Such a card would hold your picture, and whatever data they want it to contain - such as - personal stats like d.o.b., citizenship status, criminal record - it would also contain a digital interpretation of your iris and more than likely fingerprint information. <br /> <br /> I have yet hear anyone give a decent explanation as to why such a card is required. What's it for, how will it be checked, who is allowed to ask for the card? <br /> <br /> Instead of - "Your papers please" it will be "Please swip your card".

[whelan costen]

Absolutely right Roy, this is a huge leap,and very dangerous, we are still under the threat of our Census falling under the Patriot Act, this info will serve who? There were a couple of youth on Canada am the other morning showing off their new chips, implanted in their hands, they think it is 'cool', they can access everything without keys. I believe this is how the new programing will be marketed to the public, something trendy, cool, even sci-fi! People don't realize what they are giving up or how it will be used in the future. The Biometric id is a product of Manley and McLellan, they both supported it, and Manley is on the board of Cometrix. Once again the fluidness of the parties is very obvious.

[4Canada]

The really concerning thing is that those lobbying for these corparatations wanting to ID us wherever we are, wherever we shop, wherever we call etc. etc. are in all probability about as competent as the missile defence system and will cause more security stress, more financial burdens and ultimately civil war. If there will be civil war let it be BEFORE we're all wearing "cool" chips in our hands with remote shock treatment capabilities.

[Roy_Whyte]

[QUOTE BY= 4Canada] The really concerning thing is that those lobbying for these corparatations wanting to ID us wherever we are, wherever we shop, wherever we call etc. etc. are in all probability about as competent as the missile defence system and will cause more security stress, more financial burdens and ultimately civil war. If there will be civil war let it be BEFORE we're all wearing "cool" chips in our hands with remote shock treatment capabilities.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> For many Canadians thankfully, it would take a civil war to get many of us to subject ourselves biometric cards and/or chips.<br /> <br /> The more I think of this subject, I can really see it coming. Consider the following:<br /> <br /> Canada is about to be knee-deep in Afghanistan, where we will lose men and women in combat. Foreigners will seek revenge upon us. When this happens (terrorism inside Canada), expect many in the Conservative crowd to bend gleefully for biometric ID. Expect them, like many scared non-thinking Americans and Brits to acquiesce their best interests for 'security'.<br /> <br /> I know where I will be when that day comes - on the streets getting pepper-sprayed and tear-gassed.

[4Canada]

<b> know where I will be when that day comes - on the streets getting pepper-sprayed and tear-gassed. </b><br /> <br /> That may be the place we make aqaintance Roy hopefully before we are blinded.

[Marcarc]

Think of it this way. Research indicates that up to half of gun owners didn't register their guns. Can you imagine a national ID card? During a minority government there is no way this will happen. I would never even consider getting one, I'd drive illegally if it came to that. Also, there is the constitutionality of it, as there is no REAL reason for it, clearly any court will find such a thing intrusive. Keep worrying about it if you want, but to my mind there are FAR bigger fears down the pike.

[Roy_Whyte]

[QUOTE BY= Marcarc] Think of it this way. Research indicates that up to half of gun owners didn't register their guns. Can you imagine a national ID card? During a minority government there is no way this will happen. I would never even consider getting one, I'd drive illegally if it came to that. Also, there is the constitutionality of it, as there is no REAL reason for it, clearly any court will find such a thing intrusive. Keep worrying about it if you want, but to my mind there are FAR bigger fears down the pike.[/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> Hey I hope you are right, but if there is a terror strike on Canadian soil, all bets are off. We could apply your line of thinking to the census as well, there is no need for an American WMD manufacturer to be involved, especially with the Patriot Act standing over our heads, yet here we are...<br /> <br /> Why I also hope you are right - the gun registry was initially pegged at $2 million, but of course ballooned over $100 million. National ID - the lowest number I have read for such a thing was $2 billion. If 2 Million can go up at least 50 times over estimate, I dare think what $2 billion will turn into. Conservative governments of course are notorious for deficit spending as well...

[Marcarc]

The point is that the tories were elected on precisely the OPPOSITE platform. Liberal 'big' government in the gun registry, patronage, and scandals. If there is a terror strike in Canada, then as you say, ALL bets are off. Under a Canada with military law I will be even MORE absolute in a refusal to cooperate. Tories are usually smart enough to know that any government program can be used for bad purposes by future governments, which is why they traditionally avoid them. It would be suicide for tories to seriously consider this, but if there WERE a terror strike, I again think this will be LEAST of our worries.

[badsector]

Only a month into governing, this neo-con-separatist alliance trash already seems Hell bent on destroying Canada and its democratic institutions. I say the likes of Stockwell Day should be issued bio identity cards... in prison.

[Brent Swain]

The gun registry didn't balloon to 100 million . That is just the anual cost of keeping it in effect. The cost so far is over a billion. That's 1,000 million.<br /> Lets keep reminding people that it will cost far more than the gun registry ,given the much larger number of of people affected and the thus greatly increased resistance.<br /> The gun registry has a 91% error rate . Expect a much greater error rate in any national ID card, given the resistance.<br /> Brent<br /> Promoting fear and paranoia is one tool we can expect them to use to soften resistance to an ID card , just like they did so effectively in the US.Lets hope Canadians are less gullible.We will end up with far more to fear from big brother than any so called <br /> terrorist. This is currently the case in the US.

[rearguard]

Everyone I know is hell bent on resisting a national ID card. <br /> <br /> Here's a history lesson from the British who implemented a compulsory national ID car system during WWII:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3129302.stm">When the British fought off ID cards</a><br />