Yes. To some extent, we have blurred the difference between full citizenship and simply living here and having permanent residence status. In fact, the 1977 Citizenship Act reduced the residency period from five to three years to make it easier for non-citizens to become Canadians.
We have to welcome and protect, particularly permanent residents in Canada, but we have to recognize that they do not have the same rights as Canadians until they are full citizens. That is in international law. As I mentioned, the consular conventions don't allow countries access to their non-citizens just because they're permanent residents. I think there will be efforts to blur that distinction for the purposes of criticizing the implementation of this act. And I would agree with the other witnesses that this is a very first stage.
Incidentally, biometric sharing is part of the action plan. That's supposed to be introduced by 2014. I'm not sure they'll be able to meet that deadline, but this is a first step. It's enabling legislation, and I'm sure the specifics will be discussed in committee when the government decides on what databases they will use and the privacy issues.