Table of contents
- 1. Overview of the program, operating context and environment
- 2. Considerations and drivers for oversight activities priorities
- 2. Oversight delivery in 2024-25
- 3. Organizational contact information
- Annex A: Definitions
1. Overview of the program, operating context and environment
1.1 Executive summary
Transport Canada is responsible for aviation security in Canada. The department develops, implements, and oversees Canada’s civil Aviation Security Program. The program manages risks to the aviation system using a set of policies, regulations, and security measures to protect air travel and trade.
The program’s goal is “better security”, we meet this goal by:
- teaching stakeholders about their security requirements and environment
- promoting a strong security culture within the industry
- identifying and encouraging the use of proactive security behaviours, practices, and innovations
- building trust and sharing best practices, information, and experiences with partners
- promoting and validating the industry’s compliance with regulations
- getting feedback from the industry and inspectors to improve the program
1.2 Oversight activities
Transport Canada’s Aviation Security Oversight Program makes sure that these entities comply with Canadian regulations:
- designated aerodromes
- primary security line partners
- commercial air carriers and air cargo carriers
- Explosive Detection Dog and Handler Teams
- secure cargo supply chain participants, and
- Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA)
Transportation Security Inspectors inspect these entities across the country. These inspections confirm that security requirements, processes and procedures exist, are implemented and effective. This includes:
- making sure aerodrome operators have procedures to prevent prohibited items from entering restricted areas, or being used as weapons
- confirming processes and procedures to respond to threats and incidents
- confirming security awareness programs exist and security personnel are trained to deal with security issues
- making sure that passengers, baggage, and aircraft are kept secure
- checking procedures to keep people on the Secure Air Travel Act List from boarding a plane
- examining and testing methods to screen people, baggage, and goods
- visiting and assessing the security of air cargo facilities, security personnel and training to make sure they meet Transport Canada’s standards.
Transportation Security Inspectors observe, interview, document, review, test and enforce Canada’s aviation security regulations. Transport Canada also oversees foreign air carriers for on-site compliance and to assess their vulnerability at last points of departure to Canada.
The Aviation Security Technology Division sets performance standards for the security equipment that aerodromes use to check passengers and their belongings. They test and review equipment to check that they comply with Canadian standards.
1.3 Operating context
Canada is home to approximately 1,442 aerodromes and thousands of additional airstrips in both urban and rural areas, 89 of which are designated. Canada receives international flights from 221 airports from 77 countries around the world. The aviation industry is critical not only to the movement of people to, from and within Canada but also to the operations of countless other industries that rely on aviation to transport over $163.9 billion worth of goods in international trade (data from 2023).
The aviation industry is heavily regulated. The Canadian Aviation Security Regulations, 2012 sets most of these security requirements.
The Aviation Security Program has implemented and is in the process of initiating some strategic initiatives to strengthen the oversight program including development of new program areas to mitigate emerging risks, enhancing data collection and reporting, and promoting continuous improvement and oversight modernization.
2. Considerations and drivers for oversight activities priorities
2.1 Risks and planning
Effective aviation security relies on risk management, which serves as the cornerstone of keeping the industry safe. It not only influences the budget and how policies are designed but also steers the oversight of the entire aviation security sector. Despite ongoing efforts, aviation remains a prime target for terrorists, whose tactics have grown increasingly complex since the creation of Transport Canada's Oversight Program.
In response to the ever changing threat landscape, Transport Canada remains vigilant, committed to assessing and adapting strategies to address new risks and ensure aviation security remains strong. Using a risk-based approach, the Aviation Security Program systematically assesses threats, weaknesses, and potential consequences to inform decision-making, particularly regarding inspection priorities.
These inspection priorities, outlined in oversight plans, use both planned activities and unplanned (reactive) activities which are triggered by operational incidents or new issues. Continual adjustments to these priorities are made in response to the ever changing operational risk environment.
2.2 Other oversight activities
2.2.1 Regulatory authorizations
In addition to the planned, risk-based inspections, the program does other oversight-related work, such as issuing regulatory authorizations of Canadian Aviation Documents for secure supply chain program participants.
Transport Canada also issues security exemptions. Headquarters works with staff in the regional offices to develop exemptions based on requests from industry.
2.2.2 Quality control
Every quarter (3 months) Regional Managers check the quality of the inspection reports recorded in the Regulatory Oversight Module (ROM). Once done, these reports are sent to headquarters for another review and follows up on any issues that needed to be corrected.
3. Oversight delivery in 2024-25
The delivery of oversight activities, such as planned risk-based inspections and reactive inspections, will be reported through the Canadian Center on Transportation Data (CCTD). CCTD
4. Organizational contact information
Transport Canada welcomes your comments on this report.
Email: aviationsecurity-sureteaerienne@tc.gc.ca
Annex A: Definitions
| Required field | Description |
|---|---|
| Oversight | How Transport Canada promotes, monitors or enforces compliance with our safety and security requirements. |
| Regulatory authorizations | Given when a regulated party (for example, a railway company or vehicle manufacturer) applies for permission to do a regulated activity, or be exempt from it. We may give permission in various forms, including a permit, licence or certification. Transport Canada does not control the number of regulatory authorizations per planning cycle. |
| Inspection |
A documented, formal examination of industry compliance with Canadian transportation safety and security rules, regulations and requirements. Authorized Transport Canada officials record the results of each inspection. For the purposes of this document, audits are a type of inspection. *Includes pre-site, onsite, and post-site inspection and oversight activities. Is complete when the inspector submits an approved inspection or oversight activities report. Does not include follow-up action, quality control checks or outreach activities. |
| Planned, risk-based inspections |
All inspections Transport Canada initially commits to doing in a given planning cycle. * Does not include:
|
| Follow-up activities |
Arise from findings of an initial inspection. May include an on-site inspection, requests for more information, or enhanced monitoring. *Do not include enforcement. |
| Other activities | Oversight activities that Transport Canada did not initially commit to in a planning cycle, and are not a follow-up to an inspection or audit. |
| Enforcement |
Measures we use to enforce requirements and compel compliance. For example:
|
| Education, outreach and awareness | How we educate the public, and encourage people and companies to comply with the law (for example: industry conferences, air shows, training, web portal) |
| Quality control |
How we ensure inspectors follow policies and procedures, and complete required documentation. Applies to an entire oversight activity, from inspection, to follow-up, to resolving non-compliance.Supervisors and managers are responsible for quality control. Each program must have:
|