Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the matter raised by the hon. member for British Columbia Southern Interior on December 6, 2004, regarding air transportation security.
I want to assure all members that the Minister of Transport takes issues related to the security of Canada's transportation system very seriously.
Since September 11, 2001, the Government of Canada has committed $2.2 billion to further enhance Canada's aviation security. Transport Canada continuously monitors and reviews aviation security in Canada to ensure that it is effective in the face of any change to the security environment.
The Government of Canada has taken numerous actions since September 11, 2001, to further enhance the security of Canada's air transportation system, including: enhancing pre-boarding screening at Canadian airports: funding of over $1 billion over five years for the purchase, deployment and operation of advanced explosive detection systems at airports across the country, covering 99% of all air passengers. This technology for screening of checked luggage has now been implemented at major airports servicing the Canadian public.
The International Civil Aviation Organization has designated January 1, 2006, as the deadline for countries to have in place checked baggage screening for international flights. CATSA is on track with a national deployment plan for baggage screening and is on the way to meeting its baggage screening commitments by December 31, 2005.
Other actions we have taken are: an expanded program of RCMP officers on board selected domestic and international flights; increased funding for security modifications, including the reinforcement of cockpit doors; new limits on carry-on checked luggage and requirements for random secondary searches for all passengers travelling on flights bound for the United States of America, as well as their checked luggage; the implementation of an enhanced restricted area pass system for Canadian airports; and, random screening of non-passengers entering restricted areas at airports.
With respect to the issue of misplaced pieces of CATSA uniforms, as the minister requested, CATSA produced a report on this issue in December 2004. CATSA has subsequently engaged the services of Deloitte & Touche to conduct an internal audit on the current system program to manage and control uniforms. Deloitte & Touche has begun this work and has completed visits to selected airports, as well as to uniform suppliers. Once completed, CATSA will review the Deloitte & Touche report and prepare a response and action to be provided to the minister for his review.
In addition to the above, CATSA has also notified all its screeners to be extra vigilant at screening points and to immediately report any irregularities to their supervisors.
Although a special security pass is required to have access to restricted areas in an airport, Transport Canada has also issued a notice to all concerned Canadian airport operators requesting that they remind airport employees of the need to be vigilant both at airport entry points and on an ongoing basis in their workplace.
The government is satisfied that all necessary actions on this issue are being taken to maintain an appropriate level of security at Canadian airports.
I want to assure Canadians that airport security remains a top priority. We are constantly monitoring and reviewing our procedures to respond to emerging concerns and we will take further actions to protect the security of Canadians as required.