Canada plans high-tech, 10-year passports

OTTAWA, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The Canadian government will begin phasing in new high-tech passports good for 10 years beginning in 2011 with funding in the new 2008 budget.

The plan closely resembles security measures already introduced by 42 other countries in which biometric data such as fingerprints are stored in a microchip in the document, the Canwest News Service reported from Ottawa Wednesday.

Canadian passports now have a five-year life and cost $87, although there was no indication in the budget about what the new 10-year ones would cost.

Part of the $165 million security package also includes funding for enhanced provincial drivers licenses that will for the first time show the nationality of the owner for those in border communities who make frequent U.S. trips. British Columbia and Washington state are already conducting a pilot project with such licenses for people who don't have passports, the report said.

The budget also boosted funding to the Canada Border Services Agency to better manage security at more than 1,200 entry points, Canwest said.