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Checking In Putting security first By Tania Moffat


essary step and grumble about the inconvenience. Hardly anyone considers the people doing the job. Tanks to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority


T


(CATSA) our trips are safer because, for these officers, se- curity is a top priority. It’s their responsibility to ensure that nothing from Transport Canada’s list of prohibited items (knives, firearms and explosives) is brought on an aircraft. CATSA works closely with Transport Canada and aviation industry partners, and is accountable to Parliament through the Minister of Transport. Operating under a third-party business model, screening services are contracted to compa- nies which are responsible for employing the workforce. Gar- da Security Screening Inc. is the sole company responsible for hiring the screening personnel on the Prairies (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northwest Territories). All potential employees must receive a Transportation Security Clearance before they can even begin the application process.


76 • Summer 2015


ravellers arrive at the airport, print their board- ing passes, check their bags, and generally head straight for security. Some are grateful for the job screening officers do. Others view it as an unnec-


Once hired by Garda, they are trained by CATSA and issued their certification, which must be renewed annually. After certification, officers receive additional training for various types of equipment or screening services. CATSA is responsible for a number of security services,


including pre-board screening of passengers and baggage be- fore the flight, screening of passengers’ checked baggage (or hold-baggage screening), and random screening of workers and other non-passengers entering areas in the airport re- stricted to the public. CATSA is also responsible for the de- ployment, administration and maintenance of the Restricted Area Identity Card (RAIC) program. Te magnitude of responsibility on the shoulders of these officers is astounding. Not only must they do their job well, but they also must move efficiently enough to process more than 1.7 million passengers and their belongings through the Winnipeg airport annually. Tey must also screen millions of pieces of checked baggage using explosives detection equip- ment.


Officers cannot confiscate your items. However, they won’t let you pass through security with non-permitted or illegal


The Hub


Photo courtesy of CATSA.


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