No. H110/05
For release May 24, 2005

GENERAL MAURICE BARIL APPOINTED CHAIR OF CATSA

OTTAWA — Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre today announced the appointment of General Joseph Maurice Gérard Baril of Saint-Albert-de-Warwick, Quebec, as chair of the board of directors of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). The appointment was referred to the Standing Committee on Transport for review.

"With General Baril’s long and distinguished career, he will provide strong leadership for the board in its day-to-day activities," said Mr. Lapierre.

While pursuing his studies at the University of Ottawa, General Baril joined the Canadian Officer Training Corps. In May of 1964, he joined the Regular Force in the Royal 22^nd Regiment and later became part of the Canadian Airborne Regiment upon its creation in 1968. He became lieutenant-colonel in June 1980 and took command of the 2^nd Battalion of the Royal 22^nd Regiment and La Citadelle in Quebec City. In the summer of 1982, he was appointed Commandant of the Infantry School in Gagetown, New Brunswick, and four years later was transferred to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa as director land operations, training and resources, and director of infantry. The Secretary-General of the United Nations appointed Brigadier-General Baril as his military advisor in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations in 1992. General Baril retired from the Canadian Forces in 2001. He is currently special advisor to the Ambassador for Mine Action of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and inspector general in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the United Nations Secretariat.

The Government of Canada has appointed 11 members to the board of directors of CATSA to represent the interests of all Canadians, including industry and labour. Of these members, two have been proposed by the airline industry and two by airport operators.

CATSA, established on April 1, 2002, is a federal Crown corporation that operates on a not-for-profit basis. It is responsible for the provision of key air security services such as: pre-board screening of passengers and their belongings; acquisition, deployment and maintenance of explosives detection equipment at airports; management of federal contributions for airport policing related to civil aviation security initiatives; and contracting of police on board aircraft. The authority is also responsible for the delivery of consistent, effective, and highly professional service at or above the standards set by federal regulations. Transport Canada regulates and monitors the provision of security services, with CATSA being responsible for delivery.

- 30 -

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.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.