Transport committee  There are two parts to that question. The first part is on how we collect and measure processing times. We do it in a number of ways. We scan boarding passes as passengers arrive in the queue. We do that at the busiest 15 airports, which represent over 90% of passenger traffic.

Transport committee  I'll answer your question. In terms of processing on the line, we don't look at it in terms of how many passengers one screening officer can process, but in terms of a line. Depending on the type of line and whether it is a CATSA Plus advance line, we can get up to 260 to 270 people an hour through on one of those lines.

Transport committee  We have been planning for the recovery since the pandemic began. That was back in 2020, when we retained 75% of the workforce, despite over 95% of the passenger traffic disappearing almost overnight. We began a process to recall 1,250 screening officers over the summer of 2021. That was planning for the recovery.

Transport committee  It was with all of the above. We shared this with our colleagues at Transport Canada. My CEO and I met with the Canadian Airports Council. We met regularly with airport CEOs and other air carrier executives.

Transport committee  Last year, the passenger volumes were extremely low, so we managed that budget based on the capacity we needed to serve the demand at that time. The passenger volumes did not start to recover last year. They remained very low right up until March of this year and then into April and May, when we saw the spike in passenger volumes.

Transport committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, honourable members. This year marks CATSA’s 20th anniversary of operations. As you're likely aware, CATSA is a Crown corporation responsible for security screening services within Canada’s civil aviation system. We're regulated by Transport Canada.

Transport committee  With regard to the first part of your question, in terms of capacity planning with the airports, you've hit on a really key driver behind our screening checkpoint operations. CATSA operates in the airport's space. It's not our space. It is the airport's space. It provides the space, and we operate in it.

Transport committee  Thank you for the question. As you know, CATSA receives its funding through parliamentary appropriations. I would answer, yes, we are able to carry out our mandate effectively with a focus on the highest levels of security for the travelling public. While CATSA does not have a mandated service level, we have been able to achieve a service level of 85% of passengers screened in 15 minutes or less, consistently for the last four years, based on the appropriations we've received.

Transport committee  First, it would depend on what the business objectives of that airport are. Specifically, in the case of Mont Tremblant, that's already a designated airport so we provide a level of screening commensurate with the flight volumes and activity it has. For a non-designated airport seeking to have screening services, it can range, depending on what level of commercial activity it is striving for or achieves.

Transport committee  Thank you, and good afternoon, Madam Chair. My name is Neil Parry. I am vice-president of service delivery at the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, also known as CATSA. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. As many of you know, CATSA is an agent crown corporation, funded by parliamentary appropriations and accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Transport.

Transport committee  Just for clarification, I didn't mention that.

Transport committee  That was mentioned by committee.

Transport committee  I can answer the question, I just didn't say that.

Transport committee  That's a good question. CATSA, as a crown corporation, does not have direct insight into the revenue stream. As we're funded through parliamentary appropriations, we only have insight into the appropriations that are provided to us, so I wouldn't be able to answer any questions about any discrepancies between revenues and expenditures.

Transport committee  All checked baggage or all hold baggage from passengers is screened 100%. In the process you're referring to, for the most part, especially at the larger airports, the bag is inducted into the airport's belt system. You see it go down into the basement. That's where it all happens.