Due to the continued threat of terrorism to the aviation industry, Transport Canada officials will enact, Passenger Protect, a new set of security guidelines throughout Canadian airports this week. The program requires airlines to cross check passenger names with a newly created Canadian no-fly list. Airlines will continue to utilize the US no-fly list, however government officials claim the Canadian list is more simplified, containing around 1,000 names, whereas the US list contains up to 100,000 names. Authorities designed the new list to strengthen airports’ capability of detecting passengers who may pose an immediate threat to aircraft security. Transport Canada officials claim the procedures will promote safe travel to, from and within Canada by complementing current screening techniques, yet the program is likely to further complicate travel.
Passenger Protect Guidelines
The Passenger Protect guidelines list a set of criteria that a passenger must meet in order to board an aircraft. Collaborating since 2002, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) selected the names for the finalized Specified Persons List. Names found on the specified persons list will have qualified for at least one of the following conditions:
• One who has contributed to a terrorist group
• One who could reasonably be suspected to jeopardize the security of the aircraft, airport, passengers, crew members or safety of the public
• One who has been convicted of one or more severe or life-threatening crimes against aviation security personnel
• One who has been convicted of one or more severe offences and who may be reasonably suspected to attack an air carrier
On flights to, from and within Canada, passengers who are 12 years and older must present a valid government issued photo identification or two forms of additional ID to obtain a boarding pass. If a name matches one on the Specified Persons List, the airport authority will conduct further cross checks with birth dates and passport numbers. Additionally, a person with a name that matches one on the roster will not be able to even purchase tickets at an airport kiosk or Internet vendor. Passengers may appeal the case through an Office of Reconsideration
Lingering Concerns
By creating the Canadian no-fly list, government officials aim to avoid similar inconveniences that many passengers in the US have experienced when screened with the US no-fly list. However, the program could have drawbacks. For example, in the event of a rejected passenger becoming irate, a disruptive situation could develop in airport ticket lines. Airlines, including Air Canada, have called for additional police to monitor ticket lines in the event of such potential unruly situations.
For those whose names have been erroneously selected for the list, they may challenge the placement. However, the challenger must submit the case to Transport Canada’s Office of Reconsideration. The case is then sent to an independent external advisor for appeal. Once names are selected, the program will not notify those who have been placed on the list. Thus, the discovery of a false placement in a ticket line will frustrate many where they could have appealed the process before arriving at the airport.
Future Challenges
Additional challenges remain for the newly implemented program. Government officials will have to share the list in order to secure flights bound for Canada. However, submitting the airlines list abroad will need to conform to Canadian privacy laws. Another possible challenge arises when airlines attempt to balance the Canadian and US no-fly lists. Authorities must evaluate if one list is superior to the other and whether the airlines would be better suited to combine the two lists. Although the Passenger Protect program will help tighten aviation security, for some, the program is also likely to complicate the Canadian air travel experience.
