Security Measures & Air Security
Protecting citizens, their property and their way of life from outside threats is a basic role of a government. This budgets approach to security was based on increased intelligence and policing improved screening of arrivals to Canada and better emergency preparedness and support for the military. Security funding in the budget included $1.2 billion over the next five years for the Department of National Defense and its agencies.
Budget 2001 is dividing up $2.2 billion over the next five years to make air travel more secure in agreement with exact new national Transport Canada standards. To make sure that these standards are met, the Government will create a new air security authority, their measures will include:
Armed undercover police officers on Canadian aircraft, better trained personnel to screen passengers and carry on baggage, improved policing in airports, replacement of aircraft cockpit doors to make them more secure, and new state of the art explosives detection systems at Canada's airports. These measures were funded by a new Air Travelers Security Charge which was paid by air travelers starting April 1, 2002. The total cost of the charge was $12 each way for travel in Canada.
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