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4. Government of Canada Moves to Further Enhance Air Transport Security

Government of Canada Moves to Further Enhance Air Transport Security

No. H074/10
For release - June 14, 2010

OTTAWA — The Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport), today announced that the Government of Canada is launching a full review of the agency responsible for the country's air transport security, with the goal of enhancing the safety and security of air travellers.

"The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, or CATSA, plays a key role in ensuring the safety and security of all travellers passing through Canadian airports," said Minister Merrifield. "The government is currently reviewing CATSA to determine if it provides the best security for air travellers, and we are seeking stakeholders' input to determine whether changes are required to better serve Canadian industry and the travelling public."

The Crown corporation is responsible for the pre-board screening of passengers and their belongings; baggage screening through airport explosives detection systems; and screening and tracking of non-passengers entering airport restricted areas.

Specific elements of the review will include the following:

• identify opportunities to improve the flow of passengers and bags at Canada's airports;
• invite input on the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders under the current national screening delivery model;
• encourage suggestions or comments on areas of possible improvements relating to not only CATSA operations, but also Canada's aviation security system; and
• provide suggestions or comments on future directions for aviation security.

Members of the public and key stakeholders can share their thoughts on these important issues and contribute to the Government of Canada's ongoing agenda to enhance aviation security either online at www.tc.gc.ca/CATSAreview or by mail to CATSA Secretariat, 330 Sparks Street, Tower C, Place de Ville, Ottawa ON K1A 0N5.

A backgrounder with further information about CATSA is attached. Further information on CATSA and the review are available online at www.tc.gc.ca/CATSAreview.

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Backgrounder

Canadian Air Transport Security Authority

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) was created through the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Act of 2002, following the events of September 11, 2001. CATSA is responsible for the effective and efficient screening of persons who access aircraft or restricted areas through screening points, the property in their possession or control, and the belongings or baggage that they give to an air carrier for transport. CATSA shares responsibility for civil aviation security with several federal government departments and agencies, including Transport Canada, as well as air carriers and airport operators.

The four responsibilities currently assigned to CATSA in accordance with the Act are as follows:

• Pre-board Screening
  Some 6,000 screening officers carry out the security screening of over 48 million passengers each year before passengers may enter the secure zone of an airport terminal. Screening officers examine passengers and their belongings to ensure that items on Transport Canada’s prohibited items list, such as knives, firearms, incendiary devices and explosives, are not brought on board an aircraft.
• Hold Baggage Screening
  Screening officers use specialized explosives detection equipment to screen over 62 million pieces of passengers’ checked baggage each year. This is another vital layer of security to protect the travelling public. CATSA purchases and integrates the equipment into the airport’s baggage handling system, and oversees equipment operation and maintenance.
• Non-passenger Screening
  Each year, CATSA conducts, on a random basis, 600,000 security screenings of non-passengers who access restricted areas at Canada’s 28 major airports. Non-passengers include flight and cabin crews, airline customer service personnel, caterers, maintenance personnel, baggage handlers, vendors, and concession and other airport service staff.
• Restricted Area Identity Card (RAIC)
  Fully operational since 2007, the RAIC is the world’s first dual biometric (iris and fingerprint) airport identification program for non-passengers accessing restricted areas of air terminal buildings in Canada’s 28 major airports. The RAIC has a built-in computer chip with a microprocessor and memory to store biometric data. The card reader equipment is installed at the 28 major airport terminals, and all are linked via a network infrastructure to a secure central database.

Funding

CATSA is federally funded and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. As part of the Government of Canada’s ongoing commitment to the safety and security of Canadians, the government recently announced new dedicated funds that will help to strengthen Canada’s air transportation system against terrorist attacks, enhance the protection of air travellers and better align the aviation system with international security.

As a result, the Government of Canada will provide an additional $1.5 billion over five years to CATSA to enhance aviation security. Increasing the funding will allow CATSA to replace aging and obsolete technology, and invest in the newest, most effective machines for screening passengers and baggage. These investments include strengthened explosives trace detection, full-body scanners and the intention to develop a passenger behavior observation program.

These new technologies complement the upgraded technology and operational enhancements CATSA has made in recent years. For example:

• In 2003, there were 3,300 screening officers, who screened over 36 million passengers and a very small sampling of luggage; in 2009, more than 6,000 screening officers screened over 48 million passengers and 62 million pieces of luggage.
• Restricted Area Identity Card operational trials began in 2004 and involved four of Canada’s major airports. As of April 2009, approximately 336 wall-mounted biometric readers were installed, and each restricted area entry point was equipped with at least one reader and in many cases two (one for fingerprints; one for iris). In addition, 254 portable readers are currently in use, being used at bypass doors and pre-board screening points.
• All baggage is now screened with modern X-ray equipment, compared to select baggage scans in 2003 using basic X-ray equipment, and all 89 airports where CATSA operates now have an explosives detection system for checked bags.

June 2010

Date modified:

2011-09-27

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