Identity Theft Consultation
Consultation closed as of September 30, 2005Identity theft is increasing across the continent. Surveys in Canada and the United States indicate that approximately 3 percent of Canadians and Americans were victims of identity theft in 2003 alone.
The Consumer Measures Committee (CMC), a forum of federal, provincial and territorial government representatives, held a public consultation on identity theft from July 6, 2005 to September 15, 2005. Working Together to Prevent Identity Theft, A Discussion Paper, explores a number of options to amend federal, provincial and territorial laws to curb identity theft and to make it easier for victims to recover from the experience.
The Discussion Paper and Consultation Workbook
The discussion paper and workbook are posted for information only as the consultation is now closed. The discussion paper is divided into four sections. The first section provides an overview of the problem posed by identity theft, including a definition of terms and specific examples of harms that can occur. The next section examines why identity theft is a growing problem and identifies those groups that can contribute to a solution. The third section provides an overview of the legislative frameworks currently in place in both Canada and the United States. The fourth section sets out specific options for legal reforms to combat the problem, explores the pros and cons of each option, and poses questions for consideration by the reader. The consultation workbook provides you with an electronic means to respond to questions posed in the discussion paper.
