Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | April 1, 2002 |
| Jurisdiction | Federal government of Canada |
| Headquarters | Sun Life Financial Centre, 99 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario |
| Employees | 390 (2008) |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executives |
|
| Website | CATSA |
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) (French: Administration canadienne de la sûreté du transport aérien, or ACSTA) is a Canadian Crown corporation responsible for the security screening at the 89 designated airports in Canada. CATSA reports to the Government of Canada through the Minister of Transport, who is responsible to the Parliament of Canada.[1]
CATSA 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 took responsibility for airport screening which, until then, was the responsibility of the airlines as per direction from Transport Canada.[2] 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. There were 5,570 screening officers across Canada in 2013-2014, and 53.9 million passengers screened.[3]
Mandate
CATSA conducts screening services in the following four areas:
• Pre-board Screening (PBS), the screening of passengers, their carry-on baggage and their personal belongings;
• Hold Baggage Screening (HBS), the screening of checked baggage;
• Non-Passenger Screening (NPS), the screening of non-passengers (e.g. airport employees, flight crews); and
• Restricted Area Identity Cards (RAIC), the administration of access control to airport restricted areas through biometric identifiers.
List of former heads of CATSA
Past heads of CATSA have had law enforcement background. Both Duchesneau and McGarr served with the Montreal Urban Community Police Service (SPCUM). Current head is a former Canadian Forces officer and once Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force.
- Jacques Duchesneau 2002-2008
- Kevin McGarr 2008-12 [4]