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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1"><strong>March 30, 2004 <em>(4:10 p.m. EST)</em> No. 49</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>PASSPORT OFFICE RESPONDS TO AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT</strong></font></p>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham today issued the following comments in reference
to the Passport Office's response to the Report of the Auditor General on the National
Security Enhancement Initiative.</p>
<p>"The Auditor General's observations are constructive and will contribute to the
government's ongoing efforts to close security gaps and ensure that our citizens are
protected," said Minister Graham. "I am pleased to report that the Passport Office has
already instituted procedures to address the Auditor General's concerns."</p>
<p>In her report, the Auditor General states that information about Canadian passports that
are lost or stolen each year is not available to front-line officers. Minister Graham noted
that, as of February 2004, the Passport Office has been entering lost or stolen passport
data directly into the RCMP's Canadian Police Information Centre database. This
procedure allows law enforcement officials and authorized government departments
and agencies to have immediate access to the data at all times. An agreement currently
in its final stages will also allow this information to be shared with front-line officers from
the Canadian Border Services Agency, who will use it to verify travel documents
presented for entry into Canada.</p>
<p>"Protecting each Canadian against the criminal use of his or her personal identity is
fundamental to our shared security," said Minister Graham. "The Passport Office is
taking steps to maintain the integrity of the Canadian passport and, in doing so, to see
that the sharing of personal data is done only in ways that will protect the privacy of our
citizens."</p>
<p>The Passport Office is a special operating agency of the Department of Foreign Affairs
and International Trade. Its mission is to facilitate travel for Canadians by delivering
internationally respected travel documents that meet the highest security standards in
the world.</p>
<p align="CENTER">- 30 -</p>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<p>Isabelle Savard<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</p>
<p>Media Relations Office<br>
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071206233338/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></p>
<p>Suzanne Meunier<br>
Acting Chief<br>
Media Relations and Parliamentary Affairs<br>
Passport Office<br>
(819) 934-3837</p>
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