Canada launches Passenger Protect Inquiries Office to assist travelers

OTTAWA, Canada – The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, today announced that Canada is launching a new Passenger Protect Inquiries Office (PPIO). As a first step, the Government has created the PPIO to assist travelers who have experienced difficulties related to aviation security lists.

This is part of the Government’s plans to introduce a domestic redress system to better deal with false name matches against Canada’s Secure Air Travel Act (SATA) list under the Passenger Protect Program (PPP). The SATA list identifies individuals who are suspected of posing a threat to transportation security and/or who are attempting to travel by air to commit certain terrorism offences. Unfortunately, innocent individuals who have the same or similar names as individuals on the SATA list or the U.S. No-Fly list can sometimes be delayed in obtaining a boarding pass as a result of false name matches.

A redress system will allow individuals whose names closely match those on the SATA list to apply for a unique identification number. They could use this number at the time of a ticket purchase to clear their name in advance and prevent delays at airports. To put this new system in place, important regulatory and data system changes are required. While those changes are underway, it may still take more than 18 months before they can be fully implemented.

The new PPIO will also be able to work with the newly-created Canada-U.S. Redress Working Group. The bilateral Working Group allows officials from both countries to closely collaborate and share information to address inquiries related to Canadian and U.S. citizens who seek resolution regarding difficulties they experienced during screening against aviation security lists.

In addition to these ongoing efforts, the Government is committed to reviewing the full PPP in the upcoming public consultations on Canada’s overall national security framework.

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“Eliminating false positives in airport security screening is complex, but we are committed to a long-term solution through a domestic redress system. As we work towards that goal, we are taking steps to problem-solve and help those who have been affected, while at same time ensuring that aviation security remains strong and effective in keeping Canadians safe.”

– Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness