Finance committee  Well, sir, that is part of the problem. We haven't had an Auditor General's report on this subject since 2004-05, so we can only go...and we can't have access to those numbers. We have asked for them many times, from various sources, and we can't have access to them. We can only

Finance committee  Yes, I am, sir.

Finance committee  Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is John McKenna. I'm president and CEO of the Air Transport Association of Canada. I'm accompanied today by Mike Skrobica, vice-president, industry monetary affairs. ATAC has represented Canada's commercial air transport industry f

Transport committee  First of all, we will make the 2008 study on the security charges available to all members of the committee, for your information. We'll send it to Ms. Charron, of course. One of the big challenges we have in putting together this guidebook for small operators—because we do bel

Transport committee  I'm saying that right now they largely don't use the main terminal, because they go on chartered flights through the FBOs, and so on. There's talk about requiring them to go through the terminals rather than through the system of the FBOs, and that's what we stand against, becaus

Transport committee  That needs to be determined, but right now we don't know what is being done with the cost of it. That's our preoccupation.

Transport committee  None of the pilots or terrorists involved was a commercial pilot. These were people who had taken an elementary piloting course and took over the cabin. They did not have proper training and they were not employees of airline companies.

Transport committee  Indeed, they were passengers on the plane before they took control of it.

Transport committee  I dare to say that Canada and Israel are vastly different countries, and we have vastly different cultures. I don't think we're ready to be walking through airports and seeing armed military personnel all over the airport.

Transport committee  We think that the costs have become the highest. We were in second place before the 50%, 52% or 53% increase, depending on the costs—there are three different ones. We have the same questions as you do: is the CATSA well managed, in an effective and efficient manner? We see that

Transport committee  It is not our opinion that the changes are required at this time.

Transport committee  They're efficient in the vast majority of cases. In cases of pilot fatigue and so on, companies have to be responsible, but pilots also have to act professionally.

Transport committee  I think a global approach needs to be made as far as all security measures are concerned, how they're financed, how they're applied, who does what, and not just knee-jerk reactions when things happen. The air travellers security charge is collected by government, goes to the gen

Transport committee  Yes, we have a number of times, with the minister and the department, and we have no clear answer on that.

Transport committee  I share exactly what Fred said as far as that whole question is concerned. We feel that Transport Canada's role is one of oversight, and I think they were in the process of adapting to that role quite well. That is why we were all surprised by that decision, also.