The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA; ) is the Canadian

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responsible for security screening of people and baggage and the administration of identity cards at the 89 designated airports in Canada. CATSA responds to

Transport Canada Transport Canada () is the Ministry (government department), department within the Government of Canada responsible for developing regulations, Policy, policies and Public services, services of road, rail, marine and air Transport in Canada, tra ...

and reports to the Government of Canada through the Minister of Transport. The federal budget presented on March 19, 2019 included a reference to the possibility of privatizing CATSA. On June 21, 2019, Parliament passed the ''Security Screening Services Commercialization Act'', which allows the

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to designate a private not-for-profit corporation as the ''designated screening authority'' to take over and privatize the screening duties of CATSA. However, as a result of

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

, the privatization plans have been delayed with no clear timeline for discussions to resume.

Constitution

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority was officially formed April 1, 2002, following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 in the United States. After September 11, 2001, the

Government of Canada The Government of Canada (), formally His Majesty's Government (), is the body responsible for the federation, federal administration of Canada. The term ''Government of Canada'' refers specifically to the executive, which includes Minister of t ...

took responsibility for airport screening which, until then, was the responsibility of the airlines as per direction from

. The ''Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Act'' (Budget Implementation Act, 2001) provides additional security requirements as prescribed under the '' Aeronautics Act''. CATSA shares responsibility for civil aviation security with several federal government departments and agencies, air carriers and airport operators. Transport Canada is Canada's designated national civil aviation security regulator, under the standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). CATSA contracts screening services to

private security companies A private security company is a business entity which provides armed or unarmed security services and expertise to clients in the private or public sectors. Overview Private security companies are defined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic ...

. There were 5,747 active screening personnel across Canada in 2020–2021, and 7 million passengers screened. Passenger levels in 2020–2021 were significantly lower than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ranks

The following are the rank insignias used by CATSA Screening Officers:

Controversy

CATSA has been implicated by the

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for collecting non-aviation security information from the travelling public. For example, a domestic traveller with large sums of cash (not illegal) was reported by CATSA to the local police. Of the 10,400 reported incidents in CATSA's databases at the time of the audit, more than half had nothing to do with aviation security.

Presidents of CATSA

Three of the four former presidents of CATSA have come from law enforcement backgrounds: Duchesneau and McGarr had both previously served with the Montreal Urban Community Police Service (SPCUM), while Saunders served in a managerial capacity with the

Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; , GRC) is the Law enforcement in Canada, national police service of Canada. The RCMP is an agency of the Government of Canada; it also provides police services under contract to 11 Provinces and terri ...

(RCMP). Watt, however, came from a military background instead, having previously served as Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Current President Semaan has previously served in a variety of directorate roles within the Federal government of Canada, most notably as Executive Vice President of the

Canada Border Services Agency The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA; , ''ASFC'') is a federal law enforcement agency that is responsible for border guard, border control (i.e. protection and surveillance), immigration enforcement, and Customs, customs services in Canada. ...

(CBSA). * Jacques Duchesneau, 2002–2008 * Kevin McGarr, 2008–2012 * Angus Watt, 2012–2017 * Michael Saunders, 2017–2023 * Nada Semaan, 2023–present

References

External links