Public Safety Committee on March 1st, 2007

[Marc Grégoire]

We will make a decision. If we are not sure, we may make a decision for you not to board.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Will you issue an emergency direction?

[Marc Grégoire]

If we're not sure, yes.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Oh, if you're not sure, you will issue an emergency--

[Marc Grégoire]

If we're not sure and we think there is a security threat for the flight, we will issue a security directive, an emergency directive.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

And you notify the police authorities of that fact, even though you're not sure.

[Marc Grégoire]

Yes, but that's a purely theoretical question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Mr. Lee, we will have to stop. Do you want an answer to your first question?

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Yes, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Your time is way over. Do you still remember the first question?

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Yes. It was about what would cause a name to be moved off the list.

[Marc Grégoire]

Again, that's purely theoretical. But this list will be made by people. We will have a committee of Transport Canada, CSIS, and RCMP. They will be analyzing the facts surrounding people, and they will be recommending that people be placed on the list.

Since this is made by people, it is possible to think that people may make a mistake or that a situation or the facts surrounding somebody may be wrong or some new information could be acquired. If that should be the case, the name would be removed, but the criteria--

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

What circumstances would trigger the removal of a name from the list in this 30-day exercise?

[Marc Grégoire]

What circumstances?

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Yes, an example of what would cause it.

[Marc Grégoire]

We will have a continuous review of all the names on the list by the three parties I just mentioned, so a trigger would be from one of the agencies. Another trigger would be from the passenger--

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

That's to get on the list, sir. How do you get off the list? What would cause an agency to take a name off the list?

[Marc Grégoire]

I just said a permanent review of the list every 30 days. Each and every name will have to be looked at again, and if information is provided to take the name off, it will be taken off.

Another trigger would be the reconsideration mechanism that I mentioned. If somebody appeals because he or she feels there's a mistake, that's another trigger.

So there are two potential triggers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

I'll have to move on to Mr. Ménard.

[Serge Ménard, Bloc, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Grégoire, I'll tell you that, travelling by air and knowing a number of people I care for who travel by air, and understanding the present situation, I'm concerned about air security as much as you, if that's possible.

However, I need clear answers to a few questions that I ask myself before I can get an idea of the situation. I would appreciate brief and clear answers since we have a little time.

First, when you register by Internet, do you know immediately whether you can take the plane or whether you may be denied at the airport?

[Marc Grégoire]

You know whether you can take the plane only if you are able to print your boarding pass. If you can't print your boarding pass, that means there is a doubt, and you'll know that before getting to the airport.

[Serge Ménard, Bloc, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

But I believe you can print your boarding pass at home on your computer.

[Marc Grégoire]

Indeed.

[Serge Ménard, Bloc, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

If my name is on the no-fly list,...

[Marc Grégoire]

You won't be able to print it.