Transport committee  Thank you

Transport committee  The government had discussions with the United States, Mr. Chair, and at the outset we looked to see what was possible and whether or not Canada could achieve a full exemption. We were not successful.

Transport committee  We would prescribe by regulation the information that airlines would be required to provide, and it would be identical to what is contained in the U.S. secure flight program.

Transport committee  Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Transport committee  Mr. Chairman, I was part of the discussion that led to the exemption that Canada received for domestic overflights.

Transport committee  Mr. Chairman, I think you have to go back to the beginning about why this rule was put in place in the first place. There was work done by the 9/11 commission. That commission came out with decisions that called for the repatriation of the no-fly lists from the hands of the air

Transport committee  --and that's why they didn't want to go for overflights.

Transport committee  It's the minimum and the maximum, Mr. Chair.

Transport committee  Mr. Chairman, I can offer that over the course of the last four years we've had a number of discussions with the U.S. government. I think, certainly, that it is the view of the government that one of the ways to protect the privacy rights of Canadians is to be explicit in the reg

Transport committee  Mr. Chairman, perhaps I can offer a couple of comments. With respect to what will be transmitted by air carriers to the U.S. government, again I reiterate that it would be the government's intention to prescribe by regulation exactly what type of information could be transmitte

Transport committee  Actually, I'm sorry; I misspoke. Passport name record locator is not information that is required to be provided under the secure flight program.

Transport committee  Yes, Mr. Chairman, I am.

Transport committee  Mr. Chairman, I'm not an expert on U.S. legislation, but what I can offer is that in the discussions we've had with the U.S. government, they've been very clear with us that the intention of this program is aviation and national security. They've also indicated that they believ

Transport committee  It is more restrictive than as described in the rule, Mr. Chairman.

Transport committee  I think, Mr. Chairman, that as government officials we would be concerned also if the airlines did not follow the regulations as prescribed.