News
Airports pledge to participate in CATSA review
Feb. 26, 2010, Ottawa - While disappointed at an increase in the Air Travellers Security Charge (ATSC) announced Thursday, Canada's airports pledged to work closely with the federal government on its comprehensive review of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA).
February 26, 2010 By Carey Fredericks
"While Canada's airports are generally opposed to anything that increases the cost of a plane ticket, we recognise that there is an increased burden on aviation security resources in this country today," said CAC President and CEO Jim Facette. "We welcome a review of CATSA in order to ensure that the money collected from the Air Traveller's Security Charge is accounted for and spent on aviation security in a transparent manner."
A crown corporation, CATSA is responsible for the pre-board screening of passengers and their belongings; baggage screening through airport explosives detection systems; and screening and tracking of non-passengers entering airport restricted areas.
As part of today's announcement, the government said it will launch a full review of CATSA's spending, efficiency and structure to ensure it is fulfilling its mandate effectively. The government says the review will include significant participation of stakeholders, such as the CAC, and will examine the effectiveness of the hundreds of millions of dollars invested annually in aviation security, in order to determine whether alternative models would better serve the needs of industry and the travelling public.
