I am sharing this documentation with Havana Journal because it concerns the travel of Canadians to Cuba as well as the travel of Americans from Canadian airports to Cuban destinations. Many of us have been aware of a quiet agreement that has been ongoing since 9/11 with flight lists being emailed to the American authorities prior to take off from a Canadian airport with a Cuban destination.
I, and some of my Canadian friends have experienced harsh questioning from American border guards regarding our travels to Cuba. They have a complete and detailed travel record in their system of my travels to Cuba. The questioning is a form of harassment that comes from the top and I do not hold the individual border guards at fault. I as a Canadian enjoy my friends from both the United States and Cuba. I do not wish to become a pawn in the ridiculous regulations imposed on Americans by their government. The American government needs to unstick their noses out of my affairs and travels to Cuba, on the same note I expect a continued respect from Cuban authorities regarding my travels to the United States.
If the American government does not come to their senses regarding Canadian over flights then Canadians should demand the personal information of all Americans that are on flights that use Canadian airspace.
OTTAWA, Nov. 22 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister
of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced that the
Government of Canada has submitted its official comments on the United States
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) by the Department of Homeland Security on
the Secure Flight Program, urging the U.S. to exempt all Canadian overflights.
“The Government of Canada is concerned about the implications of the U.S.
proposed Secure Flight Program; and we are working hard to find a solution,”
said Minister Cannon. “Canada and the United States have long worked closely
together to promote aviation security, and this cooperation has greatly
intensified since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. We want to continue
this spirit of cooperation, which includes an assessment of threat and risk,
recognizes existing security initiatives and values privacy and individual
rights. For these reasons, it is imperative that we provide the U.S. with our
comments and suggestions on this proposed regulation.”
The official comments represent the Government of Canada’s position and
recommendations on the proposed U.S. Secure Flight Program. They include an
assertion that, in light of existing strong security protocols and security
initiatives and ongoing and growing cooperative capacity to address security
challenges, all flights between Canada and third countries that overfly the
U.S. should be exempt from the U.S. Secure Flight program. So far, all
domestic Canadian flights, representing over 75 per cent of overflights, will
be exempt under the proposed U.S. Secure Flight Program.
“We acknowledge the right of a country under the international law of the
1944 Chicago Convention to regulate access to its airspace, including
overflights that do not land in its territory,” continued Minister Cannon.
“However, in light of our complementary security systems and the security
cooperation of Canada and the United States, and the relative risk, we believe
that there are excellent security grounds for the proposed Secure Flight
Program to exempt all flights to, from and within Canada that overfly the
United States.”
The official comments also express concern about the impact that the
proposed program would have on the privacy of Canadians. In particular, the
comments underscore that consent is central to Canadian privacy standards.
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Backgrounder
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CANADIAN GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO U.S TRANSPORTATION SECURITY
ADMINISTRATION’S NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING OF AUGUST 23, 2007
(DOCKET NUMBER TSA-2007-28572) REGARDING THE SECURE FLIGHT PROGRAM
————————————————————————————————-
The official comments of the Government of Canada on the U.S.
Transportation Security Administration’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
regarding the Secure Flight Program were delivered on November 21, 2007.
The official comments state the following points:
- Canada and the United States already cooperate on a number of
initiatives that enhance the security of flights in North American
airspace, including close cooperation between their transportation
security authorities, joint efforts through the North American
Defence Command (NORAD) for military response capability, and the
In-Flight Security Officers programs. Canada and the United States
have comparable security programs in a number of areas, including the
physical and identity screening of passengers, security clearances
for airport staff and enhanced control over access to restricted
areas at airports;
- The risks represented by overflights can be mitigated and managed
through effective security measures and appropriate cooperation
between the two countries;
- In light of existing security initiatives and the ongoing cooperative
capacity to respond to security situations, Canada is asking for an
exemption of all overflights to and from Canada over the U.S.;
- The Government of Canada appreciates that all domestic Canadian
flights that overfly the U.S. are exempted under the current NPRM,
and requests that all flights between Canada and third countries that
overfly the U.S. be exempt;
- The protection of the privacy of travelers is of critical concern.
The concept of consent is central to Canadian privacy standards; and
- Canada is also concerned that the proposed Secure Flight program
could use passenger information for vetting against watch lists of
individuals, beyond those who pose a threat to aviation security.
November 2007
>>
For further information: Karine White, Press Secretary, Office of the
Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa, (613) 991-0700;
Media Relations, Transport Canada, Ottawa, (613) 993-0055; Transport Canada is
online at http://www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at
http://www.tc.gc.ca/listserv/and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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