Evidence of meeting #25 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was airport.
A recording is available from Parliament.
November 9th, 2006 / 4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you to all of you for attending today.
I'm going to address my questions primarily to Mr. Duchesneau. I'm going to follow up on a question that was asked by Mr. McGuinty and wasn't answered. It has to do with the funding you receive.
CATSA was created in 2002. Is that correct?
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
Correct, on April 1.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
No, I was appointed in October. The chair of the board was the interim CEO for about six months during the search process.
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
I'm appointed by the board.
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
Yes. There were 183 candidates, and I went through five interviews. On October 3, I was selected by the board and officially nominated on October 4 by government.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
All right. I'd like to talk a bit about the funding you presently have. At the time you took over, what was the approximate operating budget for CATSA?
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
About $290 million. I can give you more details. But I think we need to look at it on a five-year basis. It's easier. We were given $1.942 billion on a five-year period. The first year--I was wrong--it was $170 million altogether, but we were just ramping up. Then it went up when we were deploying. We deployed equipment in all 89 airports so we used more of the budget. Now we're about $57 million over what was originally given.
But you have to keep in mind that when we were created we only had four mandates. Then two mandates were added in November 2002. That is the non-passenger screening and the restricted area identification card. Also, over the last year, I hope because of the work we've done, the traffic has increased a lot in all airports across the country. We even went beyond the traffic that was there before 9/11.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
You're talking about capital funding as well as operational funding.
Let's talk about the operational funding. Do you remember what the operational budget was back in 2002-03?
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
Yes, Mr. Chair, roughly $170 million for the first year; $234 million the second year, 2003-04; 2004-05, $268 million; 2005-06, $294 million; and 2006-07, $347 million. That's the operating budget.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
Not necessarily, because now that we've deployed, we need much less money than we needed when we were first created. So we have estimates that I cannot share with you because it's still pending a decision. But if the question is--and I think Mr. McGuinty asked the question and I failed to answer the question--do we have enough money to do our job, the answer to that is yes.
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
I'm comfortable with the amount of money. As a matter of fact, we were given another $133 million this year.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
In terms of the capital that's been invested, do you believe that's sufficient at this time?
4:15 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
So far, yes, because we've deployed. The equipment is good for a seven-year period. I would ask my COO to give you more details. But it also depends on the threats that we're facing. Liquids were there before, but not as much as they have been since August 10, for instance.
So we need to adapt. I think that's one of the main messages that I need to convey to you. The CATSA that you see in 2006 is totally different from the CATSA that was there in 2002. Why is it that we made some mistakes? And I would admit that we made mistakes. We had to learn how to run before we even knew how to walk. We had to respond quickly. And looking back, I am proud of the work that has been done by the small group of people we have. I'm not bragging when I say that; I sincerely believe what I'm saying.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
With respect to the breach that took place in Montreal, you've obviously taken steps to ensure that breach doesn't occur again?
4:20 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
Yes. Once again, I don't want to dodge the question. Mr. Chair, we've been asked that question many times before. I want to answer your question. But we need to go back to the six mandates that were given to us. This is not CATSA's responsibility. Go back to the six mandates: passengers and their carry-on baggage; the checked baggage; the non-passenger screening; the restricted area identification card; and managing two policing programs. That's it. So we have a shared responsibility here.
If you're asking me how we work with partners, I'd say much more than ever before. It's going well. ADM is a good partner. We work with policing services, with the airlines and the airports.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
I have a follow-up question on that.
You talked about the six areas that you're responsible for, and I understand you have three committees that tried to coordinate all the security and safety issues. However, I noticed there was no specific reference in your handout here to who's responsible for cargo, other than the airlines. Did I miss something?
4:20 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
It's not part of our six mandates.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal (Dorval and Mirabel)
The answer is that you're absolutely right: that is who is responsible for the security of cargo today, according to the rules laid down by Transport Canada. By the way, pretty much everywhere in the world it's treated exactly the same way. The airlines--or the shippers, if it's done...[Inaudible--Editor]...are responsible for cargo, and the security of the cargo.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Do you believe any changes are required or are you satisfied that is the way it should continue?