Mr. Speaker, today I would like to advise the House and the people of the Northwest Territories about the new security measures that are in effect at airports in the Northwest Territories and across Canada following the shocking events that took place on September 11th in the United States. The new security measures may affect people leaving the Northwest Territories, depending on whether they are travelling domestically within Canada or internationally to the United States and other world destinations.
To be perfectly clear, I should point out that the legal authority for these new security measures is with the federal regulator, Transport Canada. The Department of Transportation operates our territorial airports and, like the air carriers, is subject to the federal jurisdiction.
Security measures apply to all public airports in Canada and vary depending upon the federal classification of the airport. For example, airports such as Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver are designated category 1. These airports have regular international flights and have a highly restricted security environment. Yellowknife is a category 2 airport. The controlled security environment is limited to the terminal and apron area immediately in front of the main terminal building. Normal security requirements continue in all other areas of the airport. All other public airports in the NWT are category 3 and normal security measures continue to be applied. Passengers travelling to or from smaller regional and community airports should experience no change in procedures from before September 11th.
For anyone who is not sure of the security requirements where they intend to travel, they would be wise to confirm them with their travel agent or their air carrier beforehand. For passengers traveling from or through Yellowknife to destinations outside of the Northwest Territories, check-in and security screening processes have been modified to require closer passenger and carry-on baggage checks.
At check-in, air carriers are now required to ask specific questions about the contents, packing and custody of the passenger's baggage. Some airlines apply their own security policies as well to insist that passengers show a piece of photo ID. I would strongly recommend that air travelers carry a piece of photo ID with them if at all possible. There has been some inconsistency between different airlines and airports on the question of photo identification. Photo ID is definitely required for travel to the United States and other international destinations. I recommend that travelers obtain a passport as the best form of photo identification. An NWT driver's licence or NWT general identification card is another form of photo identification and can be obtained from GNWT licensing offices. However, they may not be recognized at all locations as surely as a Canadian passport.
Security personnel are required to search carry-on baggage randomly. Passengers may no longer carry certain items on their person or in their carry-on baggage such as any knife or knife-like object, straight razor, scissors, ice skates, tennis racquets or cork screws. The new security measures give security personnel the broad discretion to prohibit any article that may pose a threat. If they are in any doubt, travelers are well advised to put any sharp or pointed objects that they may have in with their checked-in luggage.
Additionally, passengers will be asked to demonstrate that any electronic equipment that they may have in their carry-on baggage is working. As with photo identification, the airlines may have their own policies regarding the size, type and number and content of carry-on bags. Airline policy may also permit passengers to send an article in checked baggage that has been removed by security personnel during a carry-on baggage check. However, items left with security cannot be recovered.
Additional airport security personnel are now stationed at the Yellowknife airport and air carriers must follow enhanced security measures concerning the handling of air cargo coming into and leaving the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure the House and the people of the Northwest Territories that the Department of Transportation is committed to working with Transport Canada and the airline industry to maintain public confidence in the safety and security of the northern air transport industry with the least inconvenience and disruption to the travelling public.
I should add, Mr. Speaker, that Transport Canada's inspectors visited the Yellowknife airport on Tuesday, October 16th, and expressed their satisfaction with the way the new security measures have been implemented. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause