Specified Persons
Public Safety Canada provides information on individuals it has determined should be specified to Transport Canada. Transport Canada then specifies these individuals to air carriers. Transport Canada only communicates the name, date of birth, and gender of specified persons to air carriers so they can meet their obligations under the Identity Screening Regulations.
Information on specified persons is provided to air carriers at least every 30 days, in a format containing a limited amount of information (name, date of birth and gender) for the purpose of screening passenger identity to detect specified persons.
The airlines compare the names of individuals intending to board flights with the names of specified persons that Transport Canada has provided. When there is a name match, the airline will use the individual's government-issued identification information to verify whether it matches the name, date of birth and gender of someone on the list. This verification is done in person, at the airport check-in counter.
When there is a potential match, the airline is required to inform Transport Canada. Transport Canada will then verify the information with the airline. If the information matches, Transport Canada will decide whether the individual poses an immediate threat to aviation security. Transport Canada will inform the airline if an emergency direction will be issued.
Specified Persons Advisory Group
Public Safety Canada chairs an Advisory Group which identifies individuals who may pose a threat to aviation security, and where appropriate, recommends that they be specified. Other permanent members of the Advisory Group include Transport Canada, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Justice Canada. The Minister of Public Safety Canada, or his/her delegate, has the authority to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an individual poses a threat to transportation security, whether in terms of loss of life, injury, substantial damage, or interference with any means of transportation or transportation infrastructure, pursuant to section 4.81(1)(b) of the Aeronautics Act.
The members of the Advisory Group identify individuals who should be considered for specification, assess the information supporting recommendations for specification, and provide advice regarding which individuals should be specified. The Advisory Group assesses individuals on a case by case basis and determines whether the information is sufficient and/or substantive enough to make a recommendation to the Minister of Public Safety Canada, or his/her delegate. A similar process takes place when the Advisory Group receives information that warrants an assessment of whether an individual should no longer remain a specified person.
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Information for Travellers
- Identity Screening Regulations
- Identification Requirements
- Specified Persons
- Delays
- Reconsideration under the Passenger Protect Program
- Privacy