November 22, 2001

As part of its Anti-Terrorism Plan, the government today introduced a new package of public safety measures: the Public Safety Act.

The Act would amend some 19 federal laws in order to strengthen the Government's ability to improve the safety of Canadians, to prevent terrorist attacks and to respond swiftly if a significant threat should arise.

Here are the highlights of the Act as it relates to the Aeronautics Act and the Immigration Act:

It would amend the Aeronautics Act to maximize the effectiveness of the aviation security system and enhance the ability of the Government to provide a safe and secure environment for aviation. The proposed measures would include:

Providing security requirements for the design or construction of aircraft, airports and other aviation facilities;

Screening people and goods entering restricted areas;

Deterring unruly passengers by making it an offence to engage in any behaviour that endangers the safety or security of a flight or persons on board; and

Requiring air carriers or those operating aviation reservation systems to provide basic information on specific passengers or flights when it is needed for security purposes.

The Act would also amend the current Immigration Act to speed implementation of various security provisions in Bill C-11 that are scheduled for implementation in June 2002. This includes:

Suspending or terminating refugee determination proceedings if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the claimant is a terrorist, senior official of a government engaged in terrorism or a war criminal.

Clarifying the minister's authority to determine to which country a person under a "departure order" could be removed, thus denying wanted persons the ability to evade justice by going to a country of their choice rather than to the country where they are wanted.

Imposing stiff increases in penalties for those who engage in people smuggling.

Giving immigration officers the authority to arrest and detain foreign nationals within Canada who are unable to satisfactorily identify themselves. This would not apply to Canadian citizens, permanent residents or those determined to be a refugee by the Immigration and Refugee Board.