No. H152/01
For release December 11, 2001
TRANSPORT MINISTER COLLENETTE
DETAILS $2.2 BILLION IN AIR
SECURITY
MEASURES FROM BUDGET
OTTAWA — Transport Minister David Collenette today outlined details
concerning the wide-ranging air security initiatives contained in the December
2001 budget.
The Government of Canada will:
- Create, through legislation, a new
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority responsible for the provision of key
air security services. The Authority will be a federal entity and will report
to the Minister of Transport.
- Enhance pre-board screening at
Canadian airports and provide new annual funding of up to $128 million per
year. This new funding represents a 78 per cent increase over the airlines'
expenditures last year for pre-board screening. In addition, the Government of
Canada will provide up to $10 million this fiscal year to implement
immediate improvements to airport screening practices.
- Contribute over $1 billion over the
next five years for the purchase, deployment and operation of advanced
explosives detection systems (EDS) at airports across the country, covering 99
per cent of all air passengers.
- Effective immediately, expand the
program of armed police on aircraft that has already been initiated on flights
to Washington Reagan National Airport, to cover selected domestic and
international flights.
- Develop new standards and
regulations for security improvements to aircraft design, and provide up to
$35 million to assist with modifications to existing aircraft.
- Make annual contributions for costs
associated with aviation security-related policing at major airports and make
one-time payments totalling a maximum of $20 million this year for heightened
policing and security at airports resulting from the terrorists attacks in the
United States.
- Fund further significant increases
to Transport Canada staffing associated with aviation security functions,
including hiring new inspectors to provide increased oversight of aviation
security.
"Canada has one of the safest and most secure air transportation
systems in the world; a system which is now even safer thanks to the actions
taken by the Government of Canada and the aviation community since the tragic
terrorist acts of September 11," said Minister Collenette. "The
comprehensive and far-reaching initiatives announced in the budget will ensure
we can maintain and improve on that record in the months and years to come.
"With the creation of a new Canadian Air Transport Security Authority,
we will have the benefits of flexibility, private sector involvement and
sensitivity to local needs under a federal government institution, accountable
to the Minister of Transport," added Mr. Collenette. "The Authority
will ensure personnel certification, quality service and national consistency
in security services."
In addition, Minister Collenette announced that all passengers on Canadian
flights will be subject to new limits on carry-on baggage, and that all
passengers on flights bound for the U.S. will be subject to random secondary
searches at the departure gate prior to boarding the aircraft and their
checked luggage subject to random hand searches at check-in.
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Contact:
Anthony Polci,
Director of Communications,
Office of the Minister, Ottawa,
(613) 991-0700
Transport Canada is online at http://www.tc.gc.ca/.
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BACKGROUNDER
NEW CANADIAN AIR TRANSPORT SECURITY AUTHORITY
The Government of Canada is committed to improving the safety and
security of Canada's air transport system.
Establishing a new 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. This will also provide the benefits of
flexible delivery mechanisms and sensitivity to local needs.
As a federal government entity, the Authority will be 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.
While making the best use of existing and new resources and service
delivery mechanisms, the Authority will be responsible for:
- pre-board screening of passengers and their belongings;
- acquisition, deployment and maintenance of explosives detection
equipment at airports;
- federal contributions for airport policing related to civil aviation
security measures; and
- contracting for armed police on board aircraft.
The majority of the Authority's Board members will be appointed by the
Government of Canada. Airlines and airports will also have members on the
Board.
Transport Canada will continue to regulate the provision of security
services and will dedicate new resources, including hiring additional
inspectors, to increase the level of monitoring and testing of the aviation
security system.
The Government of Canada, through budget implementation legislation,
intends to create the new Authority early in 2002. Transport Canada is
working with other federal departments including the Solicitor General, and
with the air transport industry, to ensure an efficient and effective
transition.
NEW SECURITY MEASURES
Pre-board Screening
The Government of Canada will be providing up to $128 million per year
for improvements to the existing pre-board screening services and will
provide up to $10 million in this fiscal year to implement immediate
improvements to airport screening practices.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority will be responsible for the
management and delivery of pre-board screening at airports, taking over this
function from the airlines.
The Authority will be accountable for improving the effectiveness and
consistency of screening services across the country using a stable,
well-qualified and well-trained workforce.
As such, the Authority will test and certify all security officers
responsible for the delivery of screening services. Certification will be
awarded on the basis of new security and training standards set by the
Authority in accordance with enhanced Transport Canada regulatory
requirements.
The Authority will have the power to either recruit and deploy its own
security officers or to enter into arrangements for local delivery. In the
case of large airports, for instance, it may be more effective for the new
Authority to rely on airport authorities for personnel management and local
recruitment, while retaining overall accountability.
In addition, the Authority will have the ability to enter into service
contracts with security organizations in Canada.
Such service contracts, however, will be limited to security
organizations that have been certified in advance by the Authority on the
basis of national quality standards set by the Authority in accordance with
Transport Canada's regulatory requirements. Screening officers will also be
individually tested and certified by the Authority.
The Authority will be able to set conditions for employment for both its
own employees and for employees under service contracts. These conditions
could include appropriate performance standards, minimum wage rates, maximum
hours of work and conditions relating to retention, including ongoing
training.
Transport Canada will continue to establish regulations and to carry out
rigorous monitoring and enforcement.
Explosives Detection Systems (EDS)
The Government of Canada will be providing over $1 billion over the next
five years for the purchase, deployment and maintenance of new explosives
detection systems (EDS) at Canadian airports. It is expected that this
equipment will be deployed at airports covering 99 per cent of the total air
passenger traffic in Canada.
The Authority will be responsible for:
- ensuring compliance with Transport Canada's EDS regulations and
standards;
- acquiring new EDS equipment and associated technologies; and
- deploying, managing and ensuring the proper use, operation and
maintenance of EDS equipment.
Airport Security Policing
The Government of Canada will make annual contributions to help cover the
costs associated with aviation security-related policing at major airports.
The new Authority will provide funding to airport authorities, which will
make appropriate arrangements with police forces.
In addition, the Government of Canada will provide one-time payments
totalling a maximum of
$20 million for heightened policing and security at airports following
the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11.
Armed Police on Board Aircraft
The Government of Canada is immediately expanding its program of armed
police on board aircraft on selected domestic and international flights.
The Authority will enter into agreements with the RCMP to provide the
officers and the necessary training for this program and oversee the
delivery of services.
Transport Canada will continuously assess requirements, together with
government security agencies and other departments, to determine the level
of armed police needed on board aircraft to meet Canadian security
objectives. For security reasons, further details will not be made
available.
Since October 12, the Government of Canada has facilitated Air Canada's
access to Reagan National Airport in Washington by making armed RCMP
officers available for Air Canada flights to this airport.
Immediate funding for armed police on board aircraft will be provided
even before the new Canadian Air Transport Security Authority takes over
responsibility for this function.
Aircraft Modifications
The Government of Canada will be providing up to $35 million over two
years to airlines to help cover the cost of security modifications to
existing passenger aircraft resulting from new standards and regulations
currently in development.
Transport Canada is working with industry, the U. S. Federal Aviation
Administration and other aviation authorities to develop these new standards
and regulations that are expected to be finalized over the coming months.
Additional Security Measures
Transport Canada is also initiating further enhancements to aviation
security measures, including requirements that:
- all passengers in Canada be subject to new limits on carry-on luggage;
and
- all passengers travelling on flights bound for the U.S. be subject to
random secondary searches at the departure gate prior to boarding the
aircraft and their checked luggage be subject to random hand searches at
check-in.
COMPARISON OF PRE-BOARD SCREENING - BEFORE AND AFTER SEPTEMBER 11
TERRORIST ATTACKS
Issue
|
Pre-Budget
|
Post-Budget |
Accountability |
Rests with
individual airlines for their own passengers |
Authority
accountable to the Minister of Transport. |
Consistency
|
Different contracts with different guard companies,
negotiated by different lead airlines at various airports and/or terminals |
Authority responsible for all pre-board screening services
based on national performance standards. |
Objectives
|
Objective of airlines is to
meet security standards at the least cost and with the least impact on
passenger flow. |
The Authority will introduce comprehensive quality assurance
mechanisms in support of its primary objective of providing enhanced
efficient security screening. |
Delivery of Service
|
Airlines contract screening
guard companies at lowest cost |
Responsible for quality of
screening operations and accountable to the Minister of Transport for
choice of delivery mechanisms. |
Integration of Equipment and Operations |
Acquisition and maintenance of equipment rests with Air
Transport Security Corporation, wholly owned by airlines, and is operated
by security companies |
Equipment acquisition and maintenance responsibility
integrated with the Authority's operations to provide for seamless service
delivery. |
Identity |
Minimal public evidence that responsibility rests with air
carriers |
Clear visible evidence through uniforms and signage that the
Authority is responsible. |
Conditions of Employment |
Requirements and conditions of employment vary
depending on location and employer. |
Authority would establish standards to meet quality
objectives, including pre-qualifications, minimum wage rates and potential
for career path. |
ACTIONS TAKEN FOLLOWING SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS
The following is a chronology of events and major related announcements
following the closure of airspace on September 11, 2001, in response to the
terrorist attacks in the United States:
Tuesday, September 11
Immediately following the tragic events in the United States, Transport
Minister David Collenette declared that no commercial or private aircraft
were allowed to depart Canadian airports until further notice. The only
exceptions were military, police and humanitarian flights.
The Canadian aviation system immediately began preparations to accept flights
previously destined for the United States that could no longer land in that
country. At the time of the terrorist incidents, approximately 500 aircraft were
en route to North American airports. More than half these aircraft returned to
their points of departure; the remaining 226 continued on to various
destinations across Canada.
Security measures were also immediately taken at airports across the country,
including evacuation of some areas and deployment of police or security at key
access points.
Wednesday, September 12
Minister Collenette announced the lifting of restrictions on domestic air
travel within Canadian airspace, and also announced that Canadian airports would
operate under heightened security measures. Diverted flights were then released
for travel to their original destinations (flights to the U.S. still required
clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration).
New security enhancements announced included increased police presence at
major airports, increased passenger screening and additional security
procedures, including more hand searches of baggage.
Thursday, September 13
Minister Collenette announced that restrictions on international,
trans-border and private flights had been lifted. Passenger flights to the U.S.
not previously released were also allowed to resume, although many airports in
the United States remained closed to trans-border traffic.
Friday, September 14
The Minister removed restrictions imposed on cargo flights – the last of
the flight restrictions imposed in Canadian airspace on September 11, 2001.
The Minister emphasized that the return to normal flight operations in Canada
continued to be a gradual process. This was especially true for trans-border
flights into the United States, where certain airports remained closed.
Sunday, September 16
The last of the 226 flights diverted to Canadian airports was cleared to
leave for its final destination.
Monday, September 17
Minister Collenette announced that cockpit doors on all Canadian airline
passenger flights, domestic and international, must be locked for the full
duration of flights.
Saturday, September 22
Minister Collenette announced that the Government of Canada would provide a
90-day indemnity for third-party war and terrorism liabilities for essential
aviation service operators in Canada to help ensure aviation services can be
maintained uninterrupted. This action was taken in response to the decision by
international insurers to no longer provide the required levels of war risk
liability insurance previously in place.
Tuesday, September 25
Minister Collenette announced that Transport Canada is purchasing a quantity
of new, advanced explosives detection systems (EDS) for use at Canadian
airports. These new systems will supplement explosives detection equipment
already in use at Canadian airports.
Tuesday, October 2
The Government of Canada announced up to $160 million in compensation for
Canadian air carriers and specialty air operators for net losses resulting from
the closure of Canada's airspace following the terrorist attacks in the United
States on September 11, 2001.
Thursday, October 11
The Government of Canada announced $79 million for a wide range of new
measures to enhance the security of operations at Canada's airports including
$55.7 million for the purchase of advanced explosives detection systems (EDS),
$3 million to deploy airport security inspectors across Canada and $750,000 for
an analysis of advanced and evolving security practices and technologies.
Friday, October 12
The Government of Canada announced that it will help facilitate Air Canada's
access to Reagan National Airport in Washington and that armed RCMP officers
will be available for Air Canada flights to this airport.
Thursday, November 22
The Government of Canada introduced new legislation, known as the Public
Safety Act, Bill C-42, to strengthen the Government's ability to improve the
safety of Canadians, to prevent terrorist attacks and to respond quickly if
significant threats should arise. This Bill includes amendments to the Aeronautics
Act that clarify and update existing aviation security authorities;
strengthen other security authorities; address the issue of passenger data that
may be required at home and abroad; and make it an offence to engage in any
behaviour that endangers the safety of passengers or crew by interfering with
crew members or those following their instructions (commonly referred to as
"air rage").
Wednesday, November 28
The Government of Canada introduced Bill C-44, created by removing a small
section from Bill C-42, to give air carriers the ability to provide limited
advanced data on passengers to the United States as required by U.S. law,
strictly for purposes of security.
Thursday, December 6
Minister Collenette announced that, effective December 22, the Government of
Canada will provide a 45-day extension of indemnity for third-party war and
terrorism liabilities for essential aviation service operators in Canada to help
ensure aviation services can be maintained uninterrupted.
Tuesday, December 11
Minister Collenette announced details of the new air security measures
announced in the December 2001 budget. This includes the creation of a new
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority; funding of up to $128 million per
year for pre-board screening; funding of over $1 billion over the next five
years for the purchase and deployment of new explosives detection systems; a
national program of armed police on aircraft; funding of up to $35 million to
assist with modifications to existing aircraft, one-time payments totalling a
maximum of $10 million to implement immediate improvements to airport screening
practices; and one-time payments totalling a maximum of $20 million for enhanced
policing and security following the September 11 attacks in the United States.
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