Evidence of meeting #62 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was c-49.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
When something happens at an airport somewhere in Canada, or around the world, what do you do?
11:50 a.m.
Vice-President, Airport Operations, Infrastructure and Air Services Development, Aéroports de Montréal
First, we talk to our partners to find out whether the threat level has immediately changed. If something leads us to believe that the threat level has immediately changed, we have to implement measures to protect ourselves against that threat.
If there is no demonstrable threat, we will monitor the situation. We will first let our colleagues at the affected airport handle their own situation and, at the appropriate time, we will be in touch with them to find out whether they are prepared to share information. Generally, we pay them a visit.
In the aviation world, fortunately, airports do not compete with each other. Consequently, it is much easier in our industry to share information about best practices in security, in terms both of threats and of actions.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much for that valuable information.
Go ahead, Mr. Deltell.
June 1st, 2017 / 11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
My thanks to the witnesses. I am glad to meet you.
Mr. Rainville, a few moments ago, Mr. Iacono and Mr. Rayes asked you about CATSA Plus, but I would like to go back to the subject.
You say that there is no problem with departure checkpoints. But that does not mean that there could not be if the service were to increase. We are heading in that direction, with an annual growth rate of 7%.
It is the same with any new technology: if you buy anything brand new, anything on the cutting edge, you pay a lot. If you wait five years, you can get it at half price. But, after seven years, it is not worth a thing.
How do you assess the best time to acquire CATSA Plus? Do you have to invest in CATSA Plus or are you going to wait? How do you see CATSA Plus working in the future?
11:50 a.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal
Our first concern is the level of service. I'm going to sort of stand up for the other Canadian airports that are really waiting for CATSA Plus in order to increase the level of service. The CATSA Plus program has truly been tested for a long time, and it significantly increases the efficiency of the process, while maintaining the same level of safety. It has been extensively tested in Vancouver, among other places. CATSA has that assurance, and it is up to them to determine that. The solution is ripe, in our view, and it is ready to be implemented.
11:50 a.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal
I do not know.
Mr. Pharand, do we have an idea of the costs for Montreal?
11:50 a.m.
Vice-President, Airport Operations, Infrastructure and Air Services Development, Aéroports de Montréal
No.
Mr. Deltell, I would like to point out that we are not responsible for the process and the equipment. It belongs to CATSA. All we can do is put pressure on the federal agency to improve its processes and services. When it comes to CATSA Plus equipment, all we have to provide is the physical space. CATSA decides on the number of machines, the equipment to be used, and how the equipment is used.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Pardon my ignorance, but how does CATSA Plus compare to what we have right now? What would it be able to bring? How does it facilitate the movement of passengers?
11:55 a.m.
Vice-President, Airport Operations, Infrastructure and Air Services Development, Aéroports de Montréal
Actually, CATSA, which is the organization, has decided to call the new equipment, or the new process, CATSA Plus. The equipment itself has some improvements, but the difference between CATSA's regular service and the CATSA Plus program is the way the luggage and passengers are handled.
Let me give you an example. Right now, if someone enters the regular line, there is one place to drop personal belongings. In the CATSA Plus line, four passengers can drop their belongings at the same time.
Also, at the inspection end, when a suspicious item is detected, there is only one line. The luggage comes out and it has to be intercepted. In the CATSA Plus line, when something is detected, the luggage is automatically sent to a second line, thereby not hindering the movement of luggage that doesn't pose a problem.
So the technology is improved, but also the process is significantly improved.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
That's interesting, but I'll be very honest with you: I do not know anyone who likes to go through security. It is really unpleasant for a passenger; people don't feel like flying because of it. The system you are describing may be more user-friendly. It actually cannot be worse than the current experience. It's not your fault, it's the international rules. Regardless of the airport, that's what happens, and it's really unpleasant.
Do you have a suggestion on how to make it a little more pleasant? Have any studies or work been done on making the experience less unpleasant for passengers?
11:55 a.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal
The service is provided to us; we have no choice. In some countries, the airport itself manages it. You are asking if we have any suggestions. If one day we were given the funds and the responsibility, we would try to improve the process, but that is not the case at the moment.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
I do not know anyone on this planet who enjoys taking off their belt, shoes, and putting everything on the floor quickly.
11:55 a.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal
It's the same everywhere, I assure you.
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
What is your plan for customs? What investments are needed? What would you like from the federal authorities?
11:55 a.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal
This summer, as I said, it will not be easy. We are investing $8 million in the short term to remove transit passengers from the lineups. We are doing that this summer. It should give us a good boost.
In August, we must also manage the arrival of students. That is also complex. We will try to let them know that they must have the required documents ready, not in their suitcases, but in their possession. That will also help us.
From a more permanent point of view, at ADM, we are going to establish a connecting passenger processing centre, a permanent centre—
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much.
Mr. Rainville, may I please interrupt.
Monsieur Aubin, we've managed to get you two last minutes.
11:55 a.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal
As part of ADM's preliminary budget, about $20 million is earmarked to establish a permanent transit passenger processing centre. We will also be displaying the wait times. For us, I would say that our plan is clear as to what we are going to do.
The authorities need to improve processes and invest the necessary resources. They made a commitment to invest resources for the summer. However, as I said, in spite of that, we must still be reasonable and consider the high peak period in Montreal where wait times should be about 30 minutes. This is not unreasonable, and it's pretty much the norm across Canada and around the world. A 30-minute waiting period at customs is not unreasonable. That is what we should be seeing this summer.
In the longer term, each side must—
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC
Let's go back to this summer. You're talking providing the resources, but are you able to assess the missing money that the federal government should be investing?
11:55 a.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal
As I said, I'm doing my part. We agreed on a game plan. It is up to the other agencies to do their part and to invest the resources. They said that they would put the resources in place to achieve a reasonable wait time. They hired people for the summer. Everyone has their share of things to do and we agree on that. Everyone is doing their part. We will see how it will play out in the summer.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC
I have often heard that, at the Montreal airport, despite the wait time when we return, the baggage is still not there once we clear customs. It has happened to me personally.
What is the problem? Is it because there are also security measures for the arriving baggage?
11:55 a.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal
No, it has nothing to do with that.
As you know, there are a lot of people involved at an airport, but it is still an airport. Actually, the airlines are the ones unloading the baggage. As the airport administrator, we put the baggage on the plane and run the explosives detection. Earlier, I mentioned the canine unit; that is not for baggage, but for the public areas.
Noon
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports de Montréal
I wanted to clarify that, to make sure you understand.
To go back to your question, I must say that unloading the baggage is the responsibility of the airlines.