The Yukon will soon issue new drivers’ licences with more security features.
Datacard Group, an American company that manufactures secure card systems, has been hired to design the licences’ safety features, according to a release on the company’s website. The cards will be produced in Whitehorse.
“Working with Datacard, the Yukon government is modernizing the program, adding digital imaging for the first time. Our solution enhances card and program security, reducing the risk of fraud,” said Russell St. John, the company’s senior vice-president of global marketing.
Under Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, private companies cannot disclose any personal information they hold for their clients.
However, the US Patriot Act allows Washington to access personal records held by American firms.
The Yukon government would not provide any information on the new card, so it is not clear whether Datacard Group would be storing personal information in databases in the US or Canada, which will determine whether licence holders’ personal information will be protected by Canada’s more secure act, or America’s open act.
In 2006, Nova Scotia implemented a law that requires the justice minister to be notified if there is a demand outside of Canada for access to a resident’s personal information. (Larissa Robyn Johnston)