TRGO Committee Report

LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation 1

The federal government enact a Transportation Security Act administered by a Secretary of State for Transportation Security. The Secretary of State should be supported by a Transportation Security Authority within the portfolio of Transport Canada, and should report annually to Parliament on the state of transportation security within Canada. Moreover, the Secretary of State should engage in ongoing dialogue with counterparts in other countries. The legislation should prescribe the mandate, methods of operation, and accountability of the Secretary of State for Transportation Security and the Transportation Security Authority. Provision should be made for a mandatory statutory review one year after the legislation comes into force.

Recommendation 2

The federal government establish the Ministerial Working Group on Transportation Security and the Air Travel Security Advisory Group to assist the Secretary of State for Transportation Security in formulating policies, procedures, and mechanisms to enhance aviation security in Canada.

Recommendation 3

The Secretary of State for Transportation Security consult with the appropriate federal departments, including Justice Canada, the Department of the Solicitor General, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Transport Canada, the Department of National Defence, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada, prior to developing a national security database. This database could include information on known and suspected terrorists and their organizations, passport and visa information, criminal background checks, terrorist alerts and advisories, and travel patterns, among other items. This database should be designed with a view to any future integration that might occur with similar databases in other countries in order that efforts are global in nature.

 

Recommendation 4

The Secretary of State for Transportation Security meet with counterparts regarding the establishment of an international organization responsible for a global database that would permit the sharing of relevant information among domestic and international stakeholders.

Recommendation 5

The Secretary of State for Transportation Security examine the following issues: more stringent screening standards; a requirement for consistent screening practices at all Canadian airports; training and performance requirements for screeners; the development of a licensing system for screeners; enhanced passenger profiling techniques; and the implementation of the latest screening technologies.

Recommendation 6

The Secretary of State for Transportation Security study the need for air marshals on domestic and international flights, and the development of training programs for both air marshals and flight crews to adapt to this new security environment.

Recommendation 7

The federal government implement standards consistent with the highest possible security for cockpit doors.

Recommendation 8

The federal government develop standards for flight attendant training in areas that include self-defence and conflict resolution.

Recommendation 9

The Secretary of State for Transportation Security meet with stakeholders to develop national training standards for aviation personnel. The training standards should ensure that training is ongoing and involves a variety of delivery modes.

Recommendation 10

The federal government give priority consideration to the range of technological innovations available and examine the manner in which needed technological enhancements — and their corresponding infrastructure modifications and training requirements — will be financed.

Recommendation 11

The Secretary of State for Transportation Security ensure the existence of a single agency to issue passes for access to restricted areas at airports that have a consistent format, to control access to restricted areas at all airports, and to retrieve passes once the passholder ceases employment or loses access to restricted areas. Passes should be issued and retrieved in a timely manner.

Recommendation 12

The federal government enhance its current responsibilities with respect to the auditing and inspection of screening activities undertaken at Canada’s airports. To achieve this goal, an adequate number of appropriately trained full-time personnel must be devoted to these tasks, and audit and inspection activities must occur with sufficient rigour, frequency and consistency across Canada.

Recommendation 13

The federal government establish a National Registry of Aviation Security Resources. The registry should contain information on the quantity, type, and location of such resources as: sniffer dogs, hazardous material personnel, explosive device teams, and rapid deployment forces. A mechanism must be established in order to ensure that this registry remains current.

Recommendation 14

All stakeholders — including airports, air carriers, airline passengers and/or residents of Canada — contribute to the cost of improved aviation security. In particular, the amounts currently spent by airports and air carriers should be continued, with appropriate adjustments for inflation. A ticket surtax could also be implemented, and any funding shortfalls could be financed out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Recommendation 15

The federal government study the aviation security systems in other countries and pursue harmonization of these at meetings of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The harmonization should involve the adoption of the highest standards in existence among ICAO-member countries. Moreover, the federal government should examine the security issues in other modes of transport within Canada and apply to these other modes the relevant methods, tools, and organizational structures adopted to ensure aviation security.