Evidence of meeting #10 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was catsa.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the tenth meeting of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. Our orders of the day are pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), a study of aviation safety and security pertaining to security concerns.
Mr. Jean, on a point of order.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Mr. Chair, all parties have been speaking just generally, but I want to apologize in advance for any situation or any information that I may have brought forward that would have been in any way inappropriate with Mr. Kennedy's breach of privilege. I don't know if that's the case, or if you've found that yet, but I want to make sure that I apologize in advance if there has been any breach by me. I certainly erred on the side of caution to not bring that forward, and I want to make sure that all members are aware of that.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Thank you. I have reviewed those comments. Your apology is gratefully accepted. If there is any other comment, perhaps we can leave it until the end of the meeting and we can proceed with our witnesses today.
Joining us today from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority are Mr. Kevin McGarr, president and chief executive officer, and Mr. Ron McAdam, general manager of new technology.
Welcome. I'm sure you have been briefed about presentations, so perhaps you can proceed, and then we'll move to questions.
Thank you.
Kevin McGarr President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Bonjour. I am Kevin McGarr, president and CEO of CATSA. Joining me today is Ron McAdam, CATSA's general manager of new technology. We are pleased to be invited here today to speak with you and to answer any questions you may have.
The attempted bombing incident at Christmas is a stark reminder of how the events of 9/11 created an unprecedented global awareness of the link between air travel and terrorism. In Canada, this attempted attack on our close neighbour underlined the need for continued vigilance on our own home front.
Since 9/11, CATSA has been working to protect the public by securing critical elements of the air transportation system. As outlined in the CATSA act, we do this by delivering effective, efficient, and consistent security screening services that are in the public interest.
The December 25 incident, along with other recent acts at attempted terrorism, serve to remind all of us of the importance of aviation security and the continuous need for vigilance and preparedness in the face of impending threats.
I'd like to take a moment to provide you with some of the most recent advancements we have made in aviation security.
In the area of pre-board screening, we have deployed multi-view x-rays across the country, installed full body scanners in all class 1 airports, networked walk-through metal detectors in Canadian airports for data collection to help with improved passenger throughput, and hired more oversight officers to better monitor screening officer compliance and performance and ensure consistency.
For hold bag screening—that is, the checked baggage—we have been continuously evaluating the latest explosive detection equipment in a new testing facility that significantly enhances CATSA's ability to evaluate new leading-edge technology and helps us to maintain international security compatibility.
We are exploring ways to further secure the critical restricted areas in airports, including the screening of non-passengers, and are currently finishing construction of a vehicle checkpoint at Vancouver International Airport.
On a broader level, we have improved our communications with passengers through the launch of a new user-friendly website and mobile site, launched a passenger campaign based on extensive research to help target our efforts to specific types of travellers and their needs, and improved the consistency of airport signage across the country.
As I consider where we are now and our recent upcoming activities, it is not without considerable pride. In the last eight years, CATSA has undergone huge growth. We have moved from establishing operations to maintaining those operations and, more recently, to improving them. We have shifted from reacting to threats to undertaking proactive planning action, because we now have the stability and expertise in place to move in that direction.
It is a shift where our continuing efforts to use resources more efficiently will lead to better throughput of passengers; where those efficiencies, combined with improvements in customer service, will result in higher satisfaction levels among the travelling public; where better compliance with our standard operating procedures will produce consistency across the country; and where continuous efforts to strengthen our relationship with Transport Canada and our screening contractors will ensure ongoing respect, trust, and openness.
We're getting there. With the recent deployment of full-body scanners, we have added an additional layer of security that provides us with higher detection capabilities, while, at the same time, improving our customer service by giving air passengers who don't want to be physically touched during a search an alternative option.
We have also embarked on a new trusted traveller trial, Nexus, in partnership with the Canada Border Services Agency, Transport Canada and airport authorities. The Nexus program, a joint CBSA and U.S. customs border protection initiative, is designed to expedite border clearance for low risk, preapproved travellers into Canada and the U.S.
An added benefit is that, in Ottawa, Nexus card holders are now able to use a designated screening line. We are currently looking at the potential to expand this to other airports. This represents a concrete step toward risk-based screening.
Transport Canada and CATSA share the same idea that, by focusing on the higher-risk traveller, we can achieve greater efficiencies with better targeted resources.
Along those same lines, we are at the planning and development stages with our passenger behaviour observation program. It's a proactive initiative that looks at behavioural indicators to help identify deceptive activities being undertaken to circumvent security measures before any threat can be carried out. Our number one priority continues to be striking the right balance between keeping planes secure while providing the best in customer service.
Internally, we are adopting a regional model of organization to improve our service delivery and oversight. This involves bringing the people responsible for service delivery closer to front line operations and ensuring that there is flexibility to respond to local needs.
We are committed to implementing a rigorous performance measurement program to ensure that our operations are the most effective they can be. The only way to truly reach excellence in operational efficiency is by measuring how we are doing, focusing on what we do best, and fixing what we can do better.
The announcement of long-term funding for CATSA in the latest budget will go far in moving us in this direction. We can now plan and invest for the long term, maintain our core mandated activities, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our programs with the certainty that this investment brings.
At the same time, we will be preparing to implement the recommendations stemming from our strategic review. These include options to streamline our operations and enhance the cost-effectiveness of our activities to make the best possible use of resources afforded to us by Canadian taxpayers.
If the crisis stemming from December 25 taught us anything, it was that we as an organization need to be able to manage change better. As we take this into account and transform the way we do business, know that we are taking on this challenge openly and willingly. We are committed to change because we know that it will take us where we want to go, it is in the best interests of Canadians, and it is critical to our continued success.
Our most recent challenge—the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games—provided us with an opportunity to experience change on all levels as we stepped outside of our usual arena to demonstrate the best in aviation screening services to the world.
I am proud of the hard work and outstanding efforts put forth by CATSA employees, our partners in the aviation industry, and by the screening officers who worked on the front lines ensuring that all visitors who travelled by air—to and from the Games and elsewhere across Canada during this period—experienced excellence in aviation security.
CATSA will build on that momentum as we move forward with a renewed commitment to delivering world-class aviation security to Canadians in the most effective and efficient way possible.
Thank you.
Conservative
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. McGarr and Mr. McAdam.
I'd like to pick up on several themes.
Mr. McGarr, where does your mandate begin? Is it on the airport site or in the borders beyond the airport site?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
CATSA's mandated activities are restricted to the designated security line within the airport site.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
So the policies on doing off-site security clearance before people actually approach the airport is something that Transport Canada would be responsible for--not you.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
It is not currently part of CATSA's mandate to do anything outside the airport environment.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
I see that you have legal training as well.
You have said that the issues related to last Christmas afforded you the opportunity to focus, streamline, and better assess where you need to go. As a result, you got 44 full body scanners at a cost of $11 million. But CATSA had planned for that beforehand, had it not?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
CATSA had been working over the past two years with Transport Canada to pilot this technology. We had done extensive testing of the technology well in advance of the events of December 25, and it was in our plan to move forward with the acquisition of this technology. That plan was accelerated by the events of December 25.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
So you had several companies bidding on the opportunity to give you the best of the equipment available and that which was being projected. Is that what you're telling us?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
No, sir. Prior to December 25, and as of December 25, there was only one company that was able to meet the requirements of CATSA for imaging technology.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
But if you were just experimenting and trying out systems, would you not have been able to find other companies to provide you with the same kind of imaging you required under the circumstances that prevailed in Canada?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
We were not able to identify any other company that met the performance levels we were looking for.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
Are you telling me that Mr. McAdam is prepared to say that this is the only company that meets the highest standards in the world?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
I won't speak for my colleague, but he certainly—
Liberal
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
He is, and I'm sure he will repeat that L-3 was the only company that met the requirements the corporation had set out.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
So you dealt with L-3 from the very beginning, and only with L-3?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
I'll allow Mr. McAdam to give you the technical answer, but that is not quite exact, sir.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
You had other companies demonstrating their technology to you before you made a decision to go to L-3?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
We had evaluated the potential of other companies prior to going to L-3. That is it exactly.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
When you say you were evaluating their potential, did you do it in a contained environment or did you go in situ to see how they worked?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
On this point, I'd ask my colleague to respond. He led the evaluation of the technologies.