Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands for providing me with the opportunity to respond to some of her concerns. Like other police services across Canada, the RCMP in British Columbia provides on-site policing at airports. Airport security in Canada is designated into three tiers across the country.
Tier 1 includes larger airports with policing detachments such as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver and similar other larger centres. The policing detachment in each tier 1 airport is provided by the police of the jurisdiction in that municipality where the airport is located.
Tier 2 airports are located in medium-sized municipalities that include cities like Kelowna or Victoria.
Tier 3 airports are located in small communities across Canada and do not have dedicated police presence as part of their security measures.
Security assessment of all airports is a continuous effort of Transport Canada.
The funding for airport security measures is paid directly by Transport Canada to the airport authorities and the municipality.
The RCMP provision of policing services under contract is conducted through co-operation with the municipality and the chief operating officer in each airport.
Total security operations for each airport include various measures, for example, perimeter fencing, employee security passes and controlled access zones. Budget allocations by Transport Canada are based on the assessment to determine the risks and need for security at each airport.
In 2012, Transport Canada estimated that existing security measures as a whole at tier 2 airports, including Kelowna and Victoria, other than dedicated police officers and detachments, were sufficient to ensure public safety at these airports.
We have confidence in Transport Canada's assessment that the overall security package at Canadian airports, including Kelowna and Victoria, provide maximum security and safety measures for all Canadians. Let me assure the House that the policing presence at Kelowna and Victoria airports is ongoing through routine patrols and by responding to all emergency 911 calls for service.
With that being said, I thank the member for her query and I now anticipate her follow-up.