Transport Canada is proud to be a leader in the aviation security sector. In Canada, a person must pass through security screening before entering the airport’s restricted area. For the past 20 years, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) has done this screening.

CATSA requires screening officers to follow conduct standards and be professional and polite to both passengers and non-passengers.

Interfering with CATSA screeners at checkpoints

We’ve seen a rise in the number of passengers who are unruly (violent towards others at a screening checkpoint) with screening officers in recent years. Unruly passengers at screening checkpoints who continue to be unruly after they enter restricted areas can lead to serious safety and security incidents elsewhere in the airport or on board an aircraft. Preventing ongoing unruliness is important and necessary to protect civil aviation, the safety of airport and airline workers, as well as the travelling public.

Transport Canada wants to add regulations that would fine and ban people when they are unruly and interfere with CATSA’s screening process at airport screening checkpoints. Examples of unruly behaviour include:

racist and offensive language
intimidation
bullying
verbal and physical harassment
hostility
violent behavior, and
damaging screening equipment

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