SECU – SECU 116.2 – Biometric collection – September 19, 2024

IRCC’s response to a request for information made by the Standing Committee on Public Safety on August 28, 2024

Question

Mr. Larry Brock: I want to talk briefly about biometrics. Is it only in relation to fingerprints, or are we now advanced in terms of taking a look at facial recognition as part of biometrics?

Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar: Mr. Chair, biometrics include the fingerprints. I'll have to confirm whether they do the facial recognition piece, but with biometrics, certainly the information is on the fingerprints.

Mr. Larry Brock: Would you confirm that to committee within a couple of weeks after your appearance?

Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar: We will confirm that.

Response

Biometrics collected for immigration screening purposes include an applicant’s fingerprints, biographic data and photo. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada does not use facial recognition for immigration screening with domestic or international (Migration 5) partners.

Once collected, fingerprints are transmitted to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for storage and searching against fingerprint records of known criminals, past refugee claimants, persons previously deported and previous immigration applicants. They are also screened against the holdings of international partners. Combined, this screening increases Canada’s ability to make informed admissibility decisions, mitigate identity theft, combat irregular migration, and prevent persons who pose a risk to the safety and security of Canadians from entering the country.