We would very much like to be partners in the process, because in the airline security business, there are lots of stakeholders: Transport Canada, CATSA, which is responsible for security screening, air carriers, airports, and several different police forces. Depending on the airport, it could be a municipal or provincial police force or the RCMP which is responsible for surveillance. There are also customs officers, as well as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. So, there are many different stakeholders. We need to work in partnership in order to ensure an optimal response to any situation that may arise. Rather than one group being on the sidelines, and there being a single response, we would like to be consulted. It is possible that air carriers could do a little more in terms of the way they prepare or process passengers, in order to shorten waiting lines. And Transport Canada may want to change the regulations that CATSA is required to follow, in order to minimize requirements.
As for the events of December 25, all of Transport Canada's requirements were a direct result of regulations issued by the TSA in the United States. Therefore, Transport Canada really did not have much flexibility. At the same time, we were in almost daily contact with the TSA immediately following the event, to explain to authorities that their decisions had practically halted transborder flights with Canada. The fact is that they were almost all suspended, which was unacceptable.
Some air carriers from Europe, Asia and South America were also affected and complained. However, Canada was affected more than the other countries by the new measures implemented following the events of December 25.
We worked with the TSA and were able to find ways of achieving an equivalent level of security and screening, but with fewer problems. That is why, starting on January 20, we were able to change our procedures so that it would no longer be necessary to search 100% of passengers. We had found other approaches.
The work continued and by April 8, there had been further improvements in terms of requirements and the way they had been set by TSA and Transport Canada—again, to improve things even more.