48. CANADIAN AIR TRANSPORT SECURITY AUTHORITY (CATSA)

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) is seeking access to $567,828,793 in planned spending authorities.

KEY MESSAGES:

• $567.8 million in total funding is anticipated through the 2021-22 Main Estimates.

• 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.

• With this funding, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority will continue the delivery of its core mandated activities: Pre-Board Screening of air passengers, Hold Baggage Screening, Non-Passenger Screening, and the Restricted Access Identity Card program, which is the administration of access to airports’ restricted areas.

• Canadians will benefit from a professional and effective level of screening services, at or above the standards set by Transport Canada.

BACKGROUND

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) is an agent Crown corporation with the mandate to protect the public by securing critical elements of the air transportation system as assigned by the Government of Canada. 

COVID-19 has had a considerable impact on CATSA’s operations, and will likely continue to do so well into 2021-2022. There is much uncertainty around the form and timing of the Canadian air traffic industry’s recovery. However, CATSA estimates an 80% year-over-year decline in screened traffic in 2020-21, with traffic not surpassing 2019-2020 levels until 2023-2024. CATSA’s priority is to maintain stable screening operations, both during the pandemic period and in preparation for the gradual return of commercial passenger traffic to pre-COVID-19 levels. Effective November 29, 2020, CATSA has proceeded with an airport-by-airport implementation plan.

In July 2020, the Government of Canada required CATSA to implement temperature screening measures as part of a multi-layered approach to protect travellers and non-passengers in the aviation system and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. More specifically, at 15 airports all Canadian commercial outbound domestic and international travellers, and non-passengers that access restricted areas of airports receive temperature screening to help identify potentially COVID-19-infected individuals.

Given CATSA’s existing reference levels for 2021-2022 ($567.8M).