CANADIAN AIR TRANSPORT SECURITY AUTHORITY
The Government of Canada is committed to improving the safety and security of
Canada's air transport system.
Establishing the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority under federal
government control will result in a consistent and integrated air transport
security system across Canada, as well as enhanced security performance
standards and services. Transport Canada will continue to regulate and monitor
the provision of security services, with the new Authority responsible for
delivery.
The establishment of the Authority was included in Bill C-49, the Budget
Implementation Act, 2001, which was introduced in the House of Commons
February 5, 2002. Its creation was announced as part of $2.2 billion designated
for air security measures in the December 2001 budget.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority is a crown corporation and operates on a not-for-profit basis. The Authority
is accountable to the
Minister of Transport for the delivery of consistent, effective, and highly
professional service at or above the standards set by federal regulations.
The Authority will be responsible for:
- certification of screening
officers and screening contractors;
- pre-board screening of passengers and their belongings;
- acquisition, deployment and maintenance of explosives detection
equipment and conventional pre-board screening equipment at airports;
- federal contributions toward airport policing related to civil
aviation security measures; and
- contracting with the RCMP for armed personnel on board aircraft.
Under the legislation, the Government of Canada would appoint a Chief
Executive Officer and 11 members to the Board of Directors for terms up
to five years. Of these members, two would be proposed by the airline industry
and two would be proposed by airport operators.
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority employees will not be public
servants. However, they will be federally regulated under the Canada Labour
Code. The Authority will be responsible for its own employees and will
develop its own human resource policies.
Transport Canada will dedicate new resources, including hiring additional
inspectors, to increase the level of monitoring and testing of the air
transport security system.
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