Prince William and his wife Catherine welcomed their first son on July 22. Media camped out for week

The proposed changes to the law would require citizens from countries that currently don't require visas—such as the United Kingdom and most of the European Union—to obtain an "electronic travel authorization" before traveling to Canada by air, according to recently-released details . Story continues below
"Canada and the United States committed to establishing a common buying airline tickets in dubai approach to screening visa-exempt foreign nationals in order to identify threats before they arrive in North America," an official with Citizenship and Immigration Canada wrote in the government's official publication, the Canada Gazette . Privacy concerns
Jennifer Stoddart, who left her post as privacy commissioner last week, told a House of Commons committee last year that electronic travel authorizations would involve collecting "potentially sensitive buying airline tickets in dubai personal information" about millions of individuals.
She described the proposed program as a "significant new collection of information" that would include, in part, a potential traveller's family buying airline tickets in dubai name, date of birth, email address and "highly sensitive questions" regarding buying airline tickets in dubai physical or mental disorders, substance abuse and criminal history.
Among the current concerns from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner is a lack of transparency and fuzzy details about which data elements will be provided to Immigration Canada, how the information can be used and how long it will be stored.
In response to emailed questions sent Monday, Immigration Canada said the program will be implemented according to the Privacy buying airline tickets in dubai Act and include safeguards regarding the use, disclosure, subsequent use and confidentiality protections, communications advisor Mary Jago wrote.
The change could also mean Canada will collect electronic information from anyone holding a Foreign Affairs-issued passport containing diplomatic, consular or official acceptances who is "a properly accredited buying airline tickets in dubai diplomat, consular officer, representative or official of a country buying airline tickets in dubai other than Canada, of the United Nations or any of its agencies, or of any international organization of which Canada is a member."
The new rules may also apply to foreigners passing through Canada en route to the U.S., even if the flight only stops on Canadian soil to refuel. "It is expected that the vast majority of applications would be approved by the electronic system within minutes of applying," according to the government.
Amy is a national affairs reporter with the Global News team in Ottawa, contributing reports to The West Block with Tom Clark. Her work with The West Block has brought her to Halifax, Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton and Calgary.
Prince William and his wife Catherine welcomed their first son on July 22. Media camped out for weeks outside Kate's hospital wing in what was dubbed the Great Kate Wait. Was the birth of Prince George the biggest story of the year? Vote in our poll. Continue reading