Transport Committee on Feb. 15th, 2011

[Kevin McGarr]

Again, the prohibited items list is managed by Transport Canada, and the harmonization that they are seeking to achieve is with the International Civil Aviation Organization, with which we are a signatory, and the Transportation Security Administration in the U.S. That is the work Transport Canada has been undertaking over the last while.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you. I have to stop you there.

Mr. Dhaliwal.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you to the panel members.

I've been listening to the comments made by one of my friends with the separatist Bloc Québécois and either their ignorance or their intolerance towards minorities. But I just want to clarify this question about the people who come to the security, whether they have a burka or the veil on. Have you encountered any—

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Monsieur Guimond on a point of order.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Point of order.

I was reading something. My colleague is accusing me of expressing intolerant comments about the burka, the niqab, and other such things? I would like him to clarify that. I will even listen to the interpretation in order to make sure of this, before going any further.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

It's not a point of order. If Mr. Dhaliwal wants to clarify his position, he can, but it is his allotted time to ask questions.

Mr. Jean on a point of order.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I would like a clarification on that as well. I didn't have good translation. I was quite disturbed by what I thought I heard, and I would like to have it confirmed as well, please, if I could.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Again, it's not a point of order. You can ask for clarification. If Mr. Dhaliwal chooses to re-ask his question, he can. Regrettably, it would go against his time.

Mr. Dhaliwal.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Is it going against my time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Not as we speak, but as soon as you start, unless you're going to respond to the non-point of order.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

We'll give you a time credit. We're paying.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

If it's going to be taken out of my time, I won't. I already said what I said and I meant it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Continue, please.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

He doesn't have the heart to repeat it.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Have you encountered people coming to security wearing those veils or the burka, and did you see any difference? You don't see an ID, whether it's my friend the separatist or me walking through security; all you look at is the boarding pass, and you don't need to look at the identity. Have you encountered any specific problems with those types of people?

[Kevin McGarr]

Not that I am aware of, no, sir.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Thank you.

On the other issue, Canada's airport security fee is one of the highest in the world. Recently we have found that there are no efficiencies. What are you doing to make sure you reduce those costs when it comes to the security issue?

[Kevin McGarr]

Sorry, sir, I missed part of the question.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

When I looked at the recent review about CATSA's efficiency or even when I travelled across the world, if I look at the attitude of your officials on the security desk or I look at the time it takes to go through those lineups, I don't find it very efficient, but still the costs are very high. What are you doing to reduce those security costs?

[Kevin McGarr]

The most significant initiative we are undertaking with respect to efficiency, as I referenced in my opening remarks, is the request for proposals we have currently published to enter into new contractual agreements with service providers. The efficiency of the operations will be one of the very important determining factors of the evaluation of the bids we receive.

We are currently working with contracts that were negotiated in 2004. We recognize there have been a number of opportunities to improve since then, and this will be an opportunity for CATSA to normalize our contractual arrangement with service providers with a very definite look to increasing the efficiency of our operations while maintaining the security value of the screening experience.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

You have installed those full-body scanners. Have they found any real threats in their first year of operation?

[Kevin McGarr]

Our screening operations have not detected threats of the types of explosives that could be carried on the person during the course of the year.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Newton—North Delta, BC]

On the other note that you mentioned, the behaviour of the recent program is only restricted to the screening area. Why is it only restricted to the screening area and not beyond that? Would you like to see that?

[Kevin McGarr]

For the purpose of the pilot project that CATSA is currently conducting, our activities are limited to the area of the screening checkpoint. I do believe there is security value. If that program is introduced nationally, I believe there is an opportunity for tremendous security value to work with our stakeholders both in the airline industry and the airport community to put the principles in place throughout the system.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you.

Monsieur Asselin.