Air Embarkation Staff Officer

mandatory checking of all luggage by X-ray or other methods before the passengers are authorized to present themselves at the check-in counter; mandatory verification of passenger identification at the checkpoint and upon embarking; implementation of electronic passenger and employee identification systems; improvement and validation of the system used to control access to restricted areas; RCMP presence in all schedule 1 and 2 airports in Canada; implementation of an emergency intervention plan to counter ground terrorism, which could be customized according to each category of airport; application of legislative measures to count ...[+++]er the ground rage of violent passengers; ground safety inspections of aircraft, which should be done by airline personnel other than flight personnel or aircraft service agents; better control of access to boarding docks or the tarmac, using a system of electronically locked doors to eliminate the need for keys; increased consultation with employees as per the terms and conditions stipulated in part II of the Canada Labour Code; appropriate training for airline personnel provided jointly by Transport Canada and the airline; and the implementation of a safety program, including procedures that can be escalated according to the level of risk.

I would like to take a moment today to congratulate Senator Day and his colleagues on the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs for the work that they did in brokering a rational and balanced sort-through on the Bomber Command exhibit itself without violating curatorial independence, essential to any museum's reputation and integrity, or deserting our obligation to the aircrews, flyers and service people who served our country at great risk and huge loss in a vital action without which the war would have continued for many months and years, killing many more thousands on both sides.

CATSA's mandate and responsibilities are divided into six main areas: one, pre-board screening of passengers and their belongings; two, screening of checked baggage, which includes the acquisition and deployment of explosives detection systems; three, the Canadian air carrier protective program, which is the joint program with the RCMP for on-board security; four, federal assistance for air security-related airport policing; five, the creation of an enhanced restricted area pass system to control access to restricted areas at airports; and finally, the selective screening of non-passengers entering restricted areas at airports, such ...[+++] as aircraft groomers, refuellers, and other airside workers.

Pre-boarding screeners in Canada receive 20 hours of training before they are allowed in front of X-ray machines at airports.