Canada enhances biometric screening program

Travellers to Canada requiring visas will face increased scrutiny via biometric screening, as part of new federal security measures.

The new policy, announced today in Toronto by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, will be similar to that already in place for 30 nations, including Afghanistan, Egypt and Syria, and will subject travellers from an additional 148 countries to screening prior to entering Canada.

The process could include such measures as fingerprinting, retinal scans and facial recognition and will apply only to foreign nationals requiring visas to enter Canada.