For immediate release

January 20, 2005

Letter to the Editor of the Expositor from Mr. Jacques Duchesneau

OTTAWA (Ontario) - A recent letter to the editor published by the Expositor ("Canada risks letting terrorists enter the United States " - January 10, 2005), raises serious and troubling questions about the effectiveness of Canada 's air transport security regime. Regrettably, the reader's assertions about "lax" airport security are both inaccurate and unsubstantiated.

Canadians have a right to know that their air transport security system is safe and secure - that they should have complete confidence whenever they board an aircraft. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) has the responsibility to ensure Canadians have peace of mind when they fly.

Because of that responsibility, I believe we must correct the record when it is necessary; we must make sure your readers have the facts.

Let me begin by putting what CATSA does in context. When the final numbers are tallied, we estimate that in 2004, more than 38 million passengers will have passed through our pre-boarding screening lines. During 2004, over 738, 000 objects had been intercepted, including some 580,000 sharp or pointed objects and 157,600 pepper spray containers, firearms, toy weapons, as well as other dangerous and miscellaneous items.

Yes, our screening officers are busy. And they are effective. And they go about performing their vitally important work away from the public glare and without fanfare.

CATSA is still relatively young - not quite three years old - and still developing. Despite its youth, the organization's performance has achieved a level of maturity beyond its years and it has put together a track record of which Canadians can be proud.

I'm completely at ease saying this because in my travels around the world promoting CATSA, I can see how our services measure up to those offered elsewhere. And we definitely do measure up. Our air security system is on par with other countries; in some cases, it's even superior.

In the short time we have been open for business, we have acquired, deployed and installed systems to detect explosives at Canada 's airports. Our equipment is world-class and state of the art. Our scanners are so sensitive that we can find the equivalent of one tablespoon worth of explosives in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. And, while we're certainly glad to have these tools, it takes more than leading-edge technology to make Canada 's airports and skies safer. It takes well-trained screening officers to run the equipment and know how to spot a security threat.

We have concluded new contracts with suppliers of screening services. The people who are on the front lines of airport security - the pre-board screening officers - are all professional, competent and motivated.

They receive comprehensive training, both in the classroom and on the job. CATSA believes that training is the key to making this critical layer of security stronger. And, only after successfully completing a rigorous training program do screening officers receive their certification - CATSA's seal of approval.

CATSA is playing an integral role in the Government of Canada's public safety and security initiative.

Historically, Canada has had one of the safest and most secure air transport systems anywhere. CATSA and its people have made that system even safer.

How many attacks have we thwarted? How many lives have we saved? We may never know.

Could we improve our system? Of course. When it comes to security, we must remain vigilant. There is no margin for error.

This is a message I deliver to my team constantly and I remind them of something Winston Churchill kept repeating during the Second World War. He said defeat was not an option. Similarly, we at CATSA do not have the option of making mistakes. We have a responsibility to get it right every time.

This is the goal we tirelessly pursue for every single day of the year.

I hope this letter will give your readers pause and reassurance the next time they check in at security before boarding their flight.

Jacques Duchesneau, C.M.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
Ottawa

For more information, please contact:
Jacqueline Bannister (613) 998-4527