The number of Canadian passports reported lost or stolen in recent years has skyrocketed.
Between 2003 and 2012, passports loss rose from just under 12-thousand, to almost 66-thousand. This latter figure was obtained by the Quebec-based French newspaper La Presse under Access-to –Information laws..
The official agency Passport Canada says the number in the las few years hovers around 55-thousand lost or stolen. This in spite of the higher number La Presse found.
Part of the reason for the higher loss rate is that more Canadians are obtaining passports. This comes as a direct result of a US regulations since 2007 requiring Canadians to present a passport to enter the US.
The new Canadian “electronic” passport, issued since July of this year, is designed to make counterfeiting or illegal possession and use, more difficult, but the July and August 2013 figures have shown no decrease in the number of passports reported “missing”.
Security expert Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a Former Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) agent, says Canadian passports are sought after by criminal groups because Canada has a good reputation and its passport holders are slightly less scrutinized at borders.
Canadians will want to keep a closer watch on their passports though. Starting in April next year, it will cost an additional $45 to replace a lost or stolen document which itself costs $120 or $160 depending on duration of its validity.
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