Public Safety committee  There is no more information from Transport Canada, but this is why Transport Canada will immediately talk to the RCMP operation centre, because if there are police matters to be dealt with, they can be dealt with by the RCMP and the police together.

Public Safety committee  That would be an assumption, but the criteria are public. We have published the conditions under which we will put somebody on the list, in most cases. These are very serious: you are or have been involved in a terrorist group; it can be reasonably suspected that you will endanger the security of the aircraft; or you've been convicted of serious, life-threatening crimes against aviation security, etc.

Public Safety committee  I don't know. If Osama bin Laden asked us why he is on the list, we may tell him, “Because you represent a risk.”

Public Safety committee  No, there's no—

Public Safety committee  No.

Public Safety committee  Brion is dying to answer this one.

Public Safety committee  It has opened. It has been operational for about a month, even though the program has not started. We have staff in position and they're hiring people.

Public Safety committee  No. Since some of the information comes from CSIS, if the person is not satisfied with the office of reconsideration, they could choose to appeal to SIRC. If the person finds out that the information comes from the RCMP and is not satisfied with the office of reconsideration, he could appeal to the Commission for Public Complaints against the RCMP.

Public Safety committee  We're talking minutes, and it has to be minutes, because the flight has to go, and people don't come in days before their flight, they come in an hour or an hour and a half before their flight. The whole process has to be handled in a matter of minutes. Most probably, if you put yourself in a situation where you're at the airport and there's a big lineup there, the person would probably be asked to step aside for a few minutes while papers are verified.

Public Safety committee  I really cannot comment on this. I understand this has happened in the past five years. There is no provision for the Government of Canada to provide any money for such passengers, but passengers may sue airlines if they think they have a case.

Public Safety committee  Yes.

Public Safety committee  We're looking for people who are neutral, former judges and people who are able to show that they are impartial. However, it is important to note that these aren't the people who will make the decision. The decision will still be made by the Minister of Transport. The independent expert who hears a case will make a recommendation to the Minister of Transport.

Public Safety committee  It's not secret. To have an Office of Reconsideration that is completely independent, Mr. Ménard, we put it elsewhere in the department. This office is so independent that I can't provide specific details such as that. This person doesn't report to me within the organization. This person is placed elsewhere in order to be independent.

Public Safety committee  We can provide you with the answer in writing, if you wish.

Public Safety committee  We'll do that.