VANCOUVER -- Transport Canada has launched an investigation into Sunday's security snafu at Vancouver's airport that caused lengthy delays after a passenger boarded a Toronto-bound plane without being screened.
In Ottawa, Transport Minister Jean Lapierre said he wants to know how the man evaded the preboarding screening, apparently because of a misunderstanding with an employee of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, the federal agency that oversees airport security in Canada.
"Somebody walked by the system," Mr. Lapierre said outside the House of Commons.
Despite Transport Canada's promise to get to the bottom of the matter, the breach reveals gaps in Canada's three-year-old agency responsible for airport security.
It also raises questions about the speed with which authorities at Vancouver's airport responded to the security alert.
From The Globe and Mail.
Now, I want to remind you of something. This was the same crew that lost about 1000 airport security uniforms and badges last year. Some of the missing items were discovered on ebay.
This also is the same guy who is fighting to keep Washington from having access to passenger lists for Canada's domestic flights. Lapierre said he may have to re-route them (around U.S. airspace) rather than breach the privacy rights of domestic Canadian passengers.
In plans which are not yet finalized, Washington recently warned Canada (and other countries) the U.S. intends to require that its no-fly list procedures apply to all foreign airlines which pass through U.S. airspace. After 9/11, a watch list of suspected terrorists was created by the U.S. that bars those on the list from air travel within its borders.
Lapierre said it's a “very hot issue,” and that he’s working to protect the privacy of Canadians.
“I’m very worried about it. We don’t think it’s a good idea that Canadians travelling from one (Canadian) city to another would have to be checked under the American no-fly list.”
I rest my case. Is there any reason to think that Canada's Inspector Clouseau should be left in charge of security that could impact our airspace?
2 comments:
I've got a big problem with this privacy issue. I often fight about it on other blogs. My opinion is that at this current time you must lay aside your right to privacy in some circumstances. When the security of your nation is at stake it's a small price to pay.
We've done this in other wars and the republic has been the stronger for it. This is the kind of crap that worries the conspiracy nuts.
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