Diplomatic Passport and Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Citizenship and Immigration Canada: Source: Passport Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, according to CTV and - Some facts about diplomatic and special passports: Diplomatic passports are issued to high-ranking government officials, diplomats and representatives, and delegates of the Canadian government to international governmental organizations or conferences of a diplomatic nature. Special passports are issued to people holding office, such as members of Parliament, senators or members of provincial cabinets, and to people employed by the federal government in a non-diplomatic capacity who are travelling on an official mission or to a post abroad. A special or diplomatic passport confirms one identity and role as an official of the government of Canada. However, only those accredited to a foreign country have diplomatic immunity. Diplomatic and special passports have been issued as ePassports, which include a biometric security chip, since 2009. Passport Canada has issued more than 50,000 of these electronic diplomatic and special passports. The Citizenship and Immigration minister may authorize issuance of a diplomatic passport to: The Governor General, prime minister, Supreme Court judges, cabinet members, lieutenant governors, Speakers of Parliament, Opposition leaders, deputy ministers; Ambassadors, ministers, high commissioners, officers of diplomatic rank, attaches, trade commissioners and consular officers serving the Canadian government abroad; Representatives and delegates of the Canadian government to international governmental organizations and international conferences of a diplomatic nature; Cohabiting members of the immediate family of a person to whom a passport has been issued for any of the above reasons; Diplomatic couriers. The minister may authorize issuance of a special passport to: Members of the Privy Council who are not cabinet ministers; MPs and senators; Provincial premiers, members of provincial cabinets and Speakers of provincial legislative assemblies; Justices of the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal; Employees of the federal government in a non-diplomatic capacity on an official mission or travelling to a post abroad; Private citizens employed in senior positions by international governmental organizations of which Canada is a member; Private citizens who are official delegates to international conferences of a non-diplomatic nature; Private citizens serving as official advisers or experts on Canadian government delegations to international conferences; Cohabiting members of the immediate family of a person to whom a passport has been issued for any of the above reasons. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.