Canada To Revamp Air Cargo Rules Amid Terrorist Threats

The Canadian federal government is soon to announce a new set of rules that enables shippers to examine cargo contents before it even gets to the country's airport.

Current practice puts the screening responsibility and accountability on the hands of the air carriers. But screening all cargo for explosive devices and other potential threats and hazards would be "slow and impractical," Transport Canada said in a proposed regulatory plan published over the weekend. Moreover, the prevailing standard operating procedure results in bottlenecks, delays and additional costs, it added.

Suffice to say, the proposal, which Transport Canada claimed is already largely done by air carriers, entrusts the security screening of cargo placed in the belly of passenger jets to shippers. The document noted that shippers have to have the "authority to screen their own goods." Apart from shippers, cargo companies, warehouse operators and trucking firms, practically the entire supply chain, will also be included in the plan to make active participation in the program, but on a voluntary basis.

Such participation, however, could be costly as they would be required to invest in secure facilities, constantly render personnel background checks, ensure a secure chain of custody for goods, as well as implement training, screening and record-keeping, the Canadian Press said.

"Civil aviation remains a favoured target of terrorist attacks," the newly published plan said, according to the Canadian Press. "Airports, aircraft and passengers offer the kind of high-profile targets that terrorists seek, and damage to a nation's civil aviation sector can cripple a nation's economy and sense of security."

As expected, opposition MPs, while it considered the new plan's merits, said it remained doubtful how Transport Canada can effectively and seamless enforce it given its various oversights on the rail industry. NDP transport critic Hoang Mai said the plan sounds good, but "how it will be enforced... that's something that we will definitely keep a close eye on."

Over the weekend, Canada has conducted its first airstrike against the radical militants ISIS in Iraq. The development is seen to further increase terrorist threats against the country. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service, or CSIS, admitted in October that terrorists planning to wreak havoc in Canada aren't always tracked due to limited resources.