Finance committee  That's correct.

Finance committee  CATSA's mandate is only the air travel security system. All of their expenditures would be related to the functioning of the national air travel security system.

Finance committee  There are some additional programs. The RCMP air marshals and some other things done in Transport Canada are also funded by the air travel security charge.

Finance committee  I think what you'll be able to see is there's going to be an increase in CATSA's expenditures, which will correspond to the increase in the air travel security charge rate. It won't be one to one.

Finance committee  As you can appreciate, it's over five years. There will be some years when spending may be higher or lower than other years. There's capital equipment acquisition.

Finance committee  The intent is that the increased revenues will basically balance and be in line with the increased expenditures.

Finance committee  It is a user charge. Air travellers are the ones who pay for it. It's paid at the time you purchase an air travel ticket. It's in order to pay for the security you will receive when you go to the airport and for the benefits you will receive from flying safely.

Finance committee  The air travel security charge was introduced in 2002. I think if you look at the budget of 2008-09, it basically reported at that point in time that revenues and expenses were roughly in balance on a cumulative basis. What does that mean? I think there were the billions of dollars of expenditures and the billions of dollars of revenues for that period, because this was over a six-year to seven-year period at that point in time.

Finance committee  The announcement made on February 25 basically indicated that there would be an additional $1.5 billion provided for enhancing the air travel security system. The commitment is that these new revenues that will be derived from the increase in the charge will roughly offset that amount over five years.

Finance committee  The intent is that it has to be in line. There has to be a balance.

Finance committee  I believe that if you look at the budget of 2008-09, it was indicated that cumulative revenues and expenses for the air travel security system were roughly offset. Up to that point in time, it was roughly equal. It was in balance.

Finance committee  I think there was some decision that there would be a significant increase in the level of security. There were new requirements throughout the world, internationally. CATSA and those people who are responsible for determining the level of security and what is appropriate identified significant new needs.

Finance committee  There are going to be additional enhancements. The body scanners are just one measure.

Finance committee  In terms of the U.S., I can tell you that it's difficult to compare. They have at least three different sets of fees and taxes on airline tickets, including a passenger security fee. So it's really difficult to....

Finance committee  I'll follow up and just say that the U.S. budget proposed to more than double its current security fees--