Transport Canada is seeking feedback on the plan. It would grant security personnel the power to open padlocks or sealed packaging, such as plastic wrap, on luggage when X-ray screening reveals suspicious items.
Before luggage is loaded onto an aircraft, staff from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority are responsible for screening all checked baggage.
Inspectors from the agency may open unlocked luggage to search through its contents; in such cases, they place a notification card inside the bag to inform the passenger that the luggage has been inspected.
However, inspectors currently cannot forcibly open locked luggage. They must notify the airline, which then attempts to locate the passenger. If the passenger cannot be found, airline employees may open the lock to allow inspectors to search the bag, or the luggage may be held at the airport and not loaded onto the aircraft.
Transport Canada will be accepting public comments until next Monday. It states that aviation experts expect the number of Canadian aviation passengers to continue to increase annually, which means more screening will be required.
Transport Canada claims that when a piece of luggage requires a more thorough inspection, the "most efficient and time-saving method" is to allow aviation security inspectors, rather than airline staff, to open locks or sealed packaging. The consultation notice also states that if the aviation security agency is granted new powers, it "may not compensate passengers for the cost of damaged locks."
