Ottawa’s plan to install clothing-penetrating body scanners in selected airports across the country is raising privacy concerns.
Transport Minister John Baird confirmed that the federal government plans to install 44 body scanners in 11 airports within two months. The machines produce a three-dimensional image of a person’s naked body to detect items that could threaten air security.
"We will continue to implement additional security measures," he said at a press conference.
"We've got to stay ahead of terrorist elements and that's a significant concern for us," Baird added.
However, it won't be used on all passengers. It's considered an alternative to a physical search, and will be used for passengers 18 and older that security agents feel merit a secondary screening, Minister of State Rob Merrifield outlined.
The body scanners were tested successfully in Kelowna, B.C. Privacy advocates are concerned about the invasiveness of the devices.
These changes to air security procedures come in the wake of the alleged foiled Christmas Day terror attack aboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.
Officials in Ottawa insisted the incident wouldn't speed up consideration of placing the machines in Canadian airports, but the federal government changed its stance and is moving forward to purchase the scanners at a cost of $250,000 each.
The new scanners will be set up in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver.
Canada's Privacy Commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, approved the use of the scanners in October, on the condition that the officer would view the image in a separate room and never see the traveller being screened. The image would also have to be deleted once the traveller leaves the screening portal.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority claims the machines, which emit low-level radio frequency waves, meet Canadian health and safety standards.
A visibly angry U.S. President Barack Obama also spoke out about
aviation security protocol for U.S.-bound flights and noted the recent
terror threat was averted thanks to brave individuals and not American
intelligence and security agencies.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, who claims to have ties to al-Qaeda, is in federal custody in the U.S. after allegedly smuggling an explosive onto the Detroit-bound flight. He set off the device as the plane prepared to land, but it didn’t result in the intended explosion and instead sparked a fire, authorities said. Crew members wrestled him to the ground.
Abdulmutallab was able to board the flight despite the fact he was added to an American terror watch list after his father contacted officials at the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.
The American government imposed a new rule applying to U.S.-bound travellers from 14 countries including Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, who, as of Monday, are now required to undergo full body scans, pat downs and luggage searches.
Canadians with dual citizenship from one of those 14 nations will also be subjected to extra scrutiny. The full list of the countries is: Afghanistan, Algeria, Cuba, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The day after the foiled attack, new security measures were put in place for all U.S.-bound flights, causing long lineups at Pearson International. Passengers aren’t allowed to bring bags into the cabin of the aircraft, with a few exceptions, including medication or medical devices; small purses; cameras; coats; items for care of infants; laptop computers; crutches; canes; walkers; containers carrying life sustaining items; a special needs item; musical instruments, or diplomatic or consular bags.
With files from the Canadian Press