Jan. 16, 2004. 01:00 AM
Ontario to study licence options
Secure drivers' permits called a must
Could include fingerprints or eye scans
RICHARD BRENNAN AND ROBERT BENZIE
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
The Ontario government is spending up to $50,000 to study ways to make drivers' licences harder to forge, including looking at incorporating fingerprints or eye scans.
Liberal Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar told reporters yesterday this initiative was being taken because of increased security concerns arising out of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States.
Takhar insisted Ontario wasn't being pressured into it by the United States, but said rather it was a co-ordinated effort by the American Association of Motor Vehicles and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.
"So far the ministry has just an RFP (request for proposal) out to look at the options that are available to us in terms of what new technologies are available to improve the safety and security features," he said.
"In the States, they are also looking at these standards at this point," the minister said.
"Everybody is looking at these standards ... after 9/11 everybody wants to improve the safety standards," he added.
"Our current contract (for drivers' licences) expires in 2005, so we are just exploring the options," said Takhar, who dismissed suggestions that using biometrics could be seen as aninvasion of privacy.
"We will consider all the options and we will consult our stakeholders (licensed drivers) and the public ... and only then will we move," he said.
Premier Dalton McGuinty was noncommittal on the scheme yesterday. "I just heard about this. As I understand it, there is a request for proposal out.
"Am I interested in public safety? Damned right I'm interested in public safety. This is just something that somebody's going to present to us, as I understand it, for our consideration," he said.
"(But) I haven't even seen the proposal so I have nothing to consider in front of me."
NDP MPP Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre) blasted the fingerprint plan as "Stalinist, Soviet-style intrusiveness. It's nuts. The technology is still primitive, it's theoretical only.
"I mean, heck, why don't they use those callipers that measure body weight and measure fat compared to body mass. That would be about as scientific as their proposal for doing irises and fingerprints."
Meanwhile, Takhar said dollars generated by bringing back photo radar would flow to Ontario's municipalities and not be used to tackle the province's massive deficit.
"The money from this actually goes to the municipality; it doesn't stay with the province," Takhar said before going into a cabinet meeting, Canadian Press reports.
Earlier this week, McGuinty suggested photo radar might be a viable option to generate revenue to help Ontario manage its $5.6 billion deficit.
During the recent provincial election, the Liberals said nothing about using electronic fingerprints or eye scans for identification.
Ontario to study licence options
Secure drivers' permits called a must
Could include fingerprints or eye scans
RICHARD BRENNAN AND ROBERT BENZIE
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
The Ontario government is spending up to $50,000 to study ways to make drivers' licences harder to forge, including looking at incorporating fingerprints or eye scans.
Liberal Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar told reporters yesterday this initiative was being taken because of increased security concerns arising out of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States.
Takhar insisted Ontario wasn't being pressured into it by the United States, but said rather it was a co-ordinated effort by the American Association of Motor Vehicles and the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.
"So far the ministry has just an RFP (request for proposal) out to look at the options that are available to us in terms of what new technologies are available to improve the safety and security features," he said.
"In the States, they are also looking at these standards at this point," the minister said.
"Everybody is looking at these standards ... after 9/11 everybody wants to improve the safety standards," he added.
"Our current contract (for drivers' licences) expires in 2005, so we are just exploring the options," said Takhar, who dismissed suggestions that using biometrics could be seen as aninvasion of privacy.
"We will consider all the options and we will consult our stakeholders (licensed drivers) and the public ... and only then will we move," he said.
Premier Dalton McGuinty was noncommittal on the scheme yesterday. "I just heard about this. As I understand it, there is a request for proposal out.
"Am I interested in public safety? Damned right I'm interested in public safety. This is just something that somebody's going to present to us, as I understand it, for our consideration," he said.
"(But) I haven't even seen the proposal so I have nothing to consider in front of me."
NDP MPP Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre) blasted the fingerprint plan as "Stalinist, Soviet-style intrusiveness. It's nuts. The technology is still primitive, it's theoretical only.
"I mean, heck, why don't they use those callipers that measure body weight and measure fat compared to body mass. That would be about as scientific as their proposal for doing irises and fingerprints."
Meanwhile, Takhar said dollars generated by bringing back photo radar would flow to Ontario's municipalities and not be used to tackle the province's massive deficit.
"The money from this actually goes to the municipality; it doesn't stay with the province," Takhar said before going into a cabinet meeting, Canadian Press reports.
Earlier this week, McGuinty suggested photo radar might be a viable option to generate revenue to help Ontario manage its $5.6 billion deficit.
During the recent provincial election, the Liberals said nothing about using electronic fingerprints or eye scans for identification.
