|
No. H014/02
For release February 19, 2002
TRANSPORT CANADA SUPPORTS
INTERNATIONAL AVIATION SECURITY PROGRAMME
OTTAWA — Transport Minister David Collenette today announced that the
Government of Canada is providing $350,000 to help fund the International Civil
Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Security Oversight Audit Programme.
"This contribution to the ICAO Security Oversight Audit Programme
demonstrates the Government of Canada's ongoing commitment to aviation
security," said Mr. Collenette. "As a leading member of ICAO, we look
forward to working with our international partners to identify and implement
improvements to aviation security."
Mr. Collenette is attending the first day of ICAO's Conference on Aviation
Security in Montreal, February 19-20, where member states are gathering to
assess the state of the air industry and to consider several actions for
strengthening aviation security. One of the objectives of the conference is the
adoption of the Audit Programme, which would identify needed remedial action,
promote greater understanding of systemic security issues, and build confidence
in aviation security. In addition, the program will help enhance security by
identifying potential deficiencies in security oversight systems of member
countries, and by providing suitable recommendations for resolving any such
deficiencies.
Providing funding for the Security Oversight Audit Programme is one of many
steps that the Government of Canada has taken since September 11 to enhance
aviation security. Other actions include:
- committing
$2.2 billion for aviation security, as announced in the December 2001 budget,
including more than $1 billion over the next five years for the purchase,
deployment and operation of advanced explosives detection systems at airports
across the country; and
- creating,
through legislation, a new Canadian Air Transport Security Authority responsible
for the provision of several key aviation security services. The authority will
be a federal entity and will report directly to the Minister of Transport.
"By participating in the conference, and providing funding for the
Security Oversight Audit Programme, Transport Canada is building on an excellent
relationship with ICAO," added Mr. Collenette. "These actions
contribute to our goal of maintaining Canada's leadership role in aviation
security. Our aviation security program meets or exceeds ICAO Standards and
Recommended Practices, and ranks among the best in the world."
-30-
Contact:
Anthony Polci
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and
keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual
disabilities.
Backgrounder
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION
SECURITY OVERSIGHT AUDIT PROGRAMME
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), headquartered in
Montreal, is a specialized agency of the United Nations that was created in
1944 to promote cooperation between states and develop a safe and orderly
international civil aviation system. Canada was an original signatory to the
convention that established ICAO.
ICAO establishes and actively promotes compliance with international
Standards and Recommended Practices and Procedures for Air Navigation Services
for the safety, security and efficiency of international air transportation.
Canada, as a leading member, or "Contracting State," (one of 187) has
adopted these standards and procedures.
Following September 11, the ICAO Assembly adopted a resolution urging all
Contracting States to make contributions to ICAO to support and strengthen
efforts to combat terrorism and unlawful interference against civil aviation.
Contracting States were also asked to agree on special funding for urgent action
by ICAO in the field of aviation security.
The proposed establishment of the Security Oversight Audit Programme is one
such action. The program would identify needed remedial action, promote greater
understanding of systemic security issues, and build confidence in aviation
security. In addition, the program will help enhance security by identifying
potential deficiencies in security oversight systems of member countries, and by
providing suitable recommendations for resolving any such deficiencies.
Decisions on the establishment of the program are expected to be a key outcome
of the ICAO Conference on Aviation Security, February 19-20, 2002, in Montreal.
The proposed Security Oversight Audit Programme is intended to expand current
voluntary ICAO aviation security audit activities. Implementation of the program
will result in comprehensive audits by ICAO of Contracting States' aviation
security systems.
Establishment of the Security Oversight Audit Programme would directly
contribute to Canada's aviation security policy objectives, and is consistent
with the Government of Canada's ongoing commitment to transportation safety and
security.
February 2002
|
