Canada's No-Fly list goes into effect

Canada’s starts its own version of the no-fly list goes into effect today. There are approximately 1,000 names on this list and anyone who has the misfortune of being on it will be denied boarding on domestic and foreign flights.

Many of its critics have expressed fears, because of problems experienced in the United States with its version, even though it has been in effect since 2001. According to various estimates, the number of names on the American version is between 40,000 and 100,000 names.

About 2 weeks ago, CBS news show, 60 minutes did a feature on issues with this list and they found the following problems.

1. There were many innocent civilians who had the misfortune of having their name on the list, even though they had no connection to any terrorist activity. Several members of congress, including Congressman Don Young, John Lewis and Senator Ted Kennedy have been delayed or denied boarding on flights because their names were on it.

2. There is no transparent system by which one could plead his or her case to have their name removed from the list

3. There was the problem of anyone with the misfortune of having the same name as a suspected terrorist. The airlines only had the name and not much else, no picture, no birth date, so there was no way in which they could distinguish between an innocent person and the suspected terrorist.

Donna Bucella, who runs the FBI’s terrorist screening center, acknowledged that the list was not perfect, but expressed confidence that her department was doing its best to correct it.

“It's like painting a bridge. Once you finish one end, you gotta come back. So we endeavor to get the list as current and accurate and thorough as possible."

Federal Transportation Minister, Lawerence Cannon, has downplayed these concerns and have assured Canadians that they do not have anything to worry about.

"I can assure passengers that they'll be okay. The people who are going to be on this list are convicted terrorists, people who have made threats against both airlines and aircraft and people who have threatened air safety," Cannon said.
"Certainly that's not the case with the vast majority of Canadians."


Passengers over 18 will be required to carry at least one government issued photo ID or two pieces of non-photo ID, that will be screened against the “no fly list” at the airline ticket counter. If their names appear on the list, it will be cross-referenced against the date of birth, address and passport number listed. If there is a difference, the passenger will be cleared to board the flight


Hopefully the implementation of this “no-fly” list will make flying airlines in Canada safer from passengers while minimizing delays and inconvenience that they may experience. Its critics are already predicting long delays at Canada's major airports. Only time will tell how this issue will play out with the Canadian public.