Question Period Note: Aviation Security at Pearson

Aviation Security at Pearson

• Canadians expect their airports and aviation system to be safe, secure and held to the highest standards. Any weaknesses in the system must be identified and addressed quickly to maintain the high level of security Canadians expect and deserve.

• Canada’s aviation security system is built on multiple layers of protection, oversight and continuous monitoring. Maintaining public confidence requires constant vigilance and strong coordination among all partners.

• Aviation security is a shared responsibility. Transport Canada provides regulatory oversight and sets security requirements to protect passengers, workers and the public from deliberate threats. Law enforcement agencies play the lead role in investigating and responding to suspected criminal activity.

• We continue to work closely with airport authorities, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, police of jurisdiction, and other partners to address risks and strengthen security measures.

• This includes: strengthening oversight and compliance; reviewing security screening and access control procedures; and ensuring security rules are applied consistently across the system. Where criminal conduct is suspected, appropriate law enforcement action is pursued.

• Transport Canada is examining additional measures to ensure the highest standards are in place. At a time of evolving global security threats, Canadians can be confident that we will continue working closely with frontline personnel, airport operators, security agencies, and international partners to keep travellers, workers, and communities safe.

Through our ongoing oversight and surveillance of the Canadian transportation system, these gaps had previously been identified by our security partners including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canada Border Services Agency as well as by Transport Canada officials.

Over the past two years, Transport Canada has significantly expanded the Non-Passenger Screening (NPS) program at airports with international flights. With both terminal and airside screening components in place, Transport Canada intends to expand the program further in the coming year.

Transport Canada is also strengthening Transportation Security Clearance (TSC) requirements for both new and existing clearances. Clearance holders continue to undergo daily vetting against the RCMP criminal database. We are also working to improve intelligence and information sharing with federal and industry partners. Additional enhancements are underway.

Canada recently introduced stronger vetting requirement for workers in U.S. preclearance areas of Canadian transportation facilities, which include charges and convictions that make an individual ineligible to work in that area as they present a risk to border integrity, as well as transportation security, for those preclearance areas.

Transport Canada will be examining additional measures to ensure the highest standards are in place to protect passengers, workers and airport operations and support law enforcement activities.

At a time of evolving global security threats, Canadians can be confident that we will continue working closely with frontline personnel, airport operators, security and law enforcement agencies, and international partners to keep travellers, workers and communities safe.

Supporting Facts and Figures

• The NPS program now operates at more than 30 airports, including all major Canadian airports, covering over 95% of passenger volumes.