Canadian Secure Electronic Signature Regulations Now in Force

On the advice of the Treasury Board Secretariat on February 1, 2005, the Canadian Cabinet brought into force the Secure Electronic Signature Regulations (SOR/2005-30). The Regulations define secure electronic signature for the purposes of both the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and the Canada Evidence Act. An essential element of the process of creating a secure electronic signature involves the use of a digital signature certificate which will be issued by a certification authority. In order to become such a certification authority, a person or entity must be able to issue digital signature certificates in a secure and reliable manner and when that has been recognized, the name of the authority will be listed on the web site of the Treasury Board Secretariat (see: http://www.hrma-agrh.gc.ca/mtp-psg/tbs_e.asp). The full text of the Secure Electronic Signature Regulations can be found at: http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partII/2005/20050223/html/sor30-e.html. Summary by: The Editor