Gemalto to Establish Basis for Biometric eID Issuance in Canada’s Atlantic Provinces

Gemalto has been contracted to provide new, highly secure driver licenses for the Atlantic provinces of Canada. New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island will all benefit from polycarbonate licenses, issued centrally by Gemalto.

Gemalto will also take charge of enrollment, introducing a new process that will incorporate digital signatures and facial biometrics. Not only will this enrollment process comply with the most recent ICAO standards, it will establish a basis for any future eID and digital driver license issuance.

Commenting on the deal in a statement, PEI Minister of Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Paula Biggar said Gemalto was selected not only for what the company’s secure ID technology can offer today, but because “their innovations in technology will help us achieve what we want to do in the coming years.”

The contract win comes soon after Gemalto, together with the National Police Board of Finland, won Best Regional ID Document at the High Security Printing EMEA conference, in recognition of their biometric ePassport and ID card solution.