Good afternoon. I'm Steve Hankinson, and I'm vice-president, planning and innovation from Vancouver Airport Authority and the former chair of the screening working group that brought together airports and airlines toward a common goal of improving screening.
While we are still in very early days, and success is not guaranteed, the transition to a not-for-profit entity for CATSA represents a rare opportunity to improve an important part of the travel experience. With this move, Transport Canada would continue to regulate aviation security in Canada, but operational responsibility for this critical part of the air traveller experience would be transferred out of government to an organization whose mandate would be continued high security delivered more efficiently, more effectively and with leading standards of professionalism.
Whatever service-level standard is ultimately set by the new designated screening authority, our goal is to improve on the rough service target averages followed today and for wait times calculated on an hourly basis to more accurately reflect what travellers experience at Canada's airports.
The organization also will be self-funded, both for operations and the investments needed in innovations to get ahead of growth. After 2016, when Minister of Transport Marc Garneau first committed to looking at governance of CATSA and to holding it accountable to international service standards, our industry working groups submitted a series of additional recommendations for a new designated screening authority that continued to be valid.
The new designated screening authority should be structured to the highest standards in corporate governance and public accountability. Screening must be effective and efficient, responsive to threats while becoming more innovative and entrepreneurial, and enhancing Canadian aviation competitiveness.
The organization must be able to raise its own funds in a transparent and predictable manner to support consistent national standards across the organization's full mandate to screen all air travellers, their bags, and airport workers. The new designated screening authority must have the flexibility to innovate, not only in terms of financial flexibility but also in the ongoing regulatory relationship with Transport Canada.
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