Minister Garneau’s appearance before the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN) on Main Estimates 2020-21 and Supplementary Estimates (B), 2020-21 held on November 5, 2020

25. CANADIAN AIR TRANSPORT SECURITY AUTHORITY FUNDING

CANADIAN AIR TRANSPORT SECURITY AUTHORITY FUNDING

Seeking to access $562,700,000 through the 2020-21 Main Estimates

CATSA is seeking access its reference level funding of $562,700,000 for 2020-21.

Key Messages:

  • The $562.7 million comes from CATSA’s ongoing reference level funding.  $422M of CATSA’s reference level funding has already been accessed through earlier interim supply processes.  The remaining $140,675,000 will be accessed through the remaining supply process, expected in December 2020.
  • CATSA’s mandate is to provide effective and efficient screening of persons who access aircraft or restricted areas through screening points, the property in their possession or control, and the belongings or baggage that they give to an air carrier for transport.
  • CATSA will continue to provide security screening services at designated airports.
  • The screening services provided by CATSA protect the public by securing critical elements of the air transportation system.

If pressed: on the future governance of CATSA.

  • Through Budget 2019 and the Budget Implementation Act, 2019, the Government of Canada committed to selling CATSA’s assets to an independent, not-for-profit Designated Screening Authority, and to transferring responsibility for aviation security screening services to that entity.  
  • As a result of the dislocation caused by the pandemic, the Government and industry have put discussions on hold for the time being, and CATSA continues to carry out its mandated screening activities.

Background

CATSA is an agent parent Crown corporation, fully funded by parliamentary appropriations.  It was created in December 2001, as part of the Government of Canada’s response to the events of September 11, 2001, pursuant to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Act (CATSA Act) and the Budget Implementation Act, 2001. It came into force on April 1, 2002.
 

CATSA’s reference level funding is $562.7 million in voted appropriations.  During FY 2020-21, CATSA accessed $422M of its base funding via interim supply 1 and 2 processes.  CATSA is aiming to access the remainder of its base funding (140.7M) through the December 2020 Main Estimates process.