Canada unveils new passport design. And yes, it’s still blue

The Canadian government has unveiled a new passport design that features new security features and will begin production this summer.

The passport's new cover-to-cover redesign will boast artwork highlighting Canada's diverse people, landscapes and wildlife. The new passport will also include new security features including the laser engraving of personal information, making the data page more durable and resistant, according to The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

And yes, it's still blue.

Fraser was joined by the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, at Ottawa International Airport on Tuesday for the unveiling of the passport. The Ministers were also joined by Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.

The security features are going to position Canada as a leader when it comes to ... protecting ... the authenticity of our travel documents over the course of the next generation," said Fraser.

Gould added that there will not be a difference in price.

The historic images prevalent in the older model were also removed in the new document. Fraser said this change was made after consultation where we received a significant amount of feedback on the need to celebrate our natural environment, to celebrate the diversity of Canada's peoples more so than simply historical artifacts or symbols."

The new passport will feature reference to newly-crowned King Charles III, making Canada one of the first countries in the Commonwealth to introduce a travel document series with reference to the monarch.

The document will also include an embedded electronic passport chip in a transparent window which will better detect tampering attempts.

The passport redesign began in 2013 as a regular process to prevent counterfeiting by integrating new and more modern security features and design techniques.

Gould said that this is a normal process" and that every 10 years the Government updates the passport to ensure the technology is current.

It's important that [the passport] is continually updated to make sure that we're keeping fraudsters and criminals at at bay while protecting the ability of Canadians to travel," said Gould.

Those who have recently received a passport will still be carrying the older generation until it expires. Gould said that both generations are secure and great."

These changes will not only better reflect who we are as a person, but also strengthen the safety and security of Canadian travellers," said Lalonde.

Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca