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Today, the @SenateCA Standing Committee on Human Rights #RIDR is studying the #NoFlyList. You can watch live at senparlvu.parl.gc.ca/XRender/en/Pow… #cdnpoli #c59
Up now: John Davies, Director General, National Security Policy, @Safety_Canada; Andrew Lawrence, Acting Director General, Travellers Programs Directorate, @CanBorder; Wendy Nixon, Director General, Aviation Security, @Transport_gc #noflylist #c59 #cdnpoli
Q: how many cases have been resolved by the Passenger Protect Inquiries Office
A: would need to clarify "resolution", but can get the numbers regarding inquiries to PPIO. Have heard the criticisms of the PPIO, Ave working to improve. Can say see about 5 to 10 inquiries per week
Question about whether if when someone is identified as a risk, would that information trigger actions beyond Canadian authorities
Answer is that it depends on the nature of the threat, but when someone is denied boarding triggers discussion across agencies. Could also lead to coordination, ie with local law enforcement if there's an outstanding warrant, etc. #noflylist
Q: how does C-59 try to address privacy concerns? And why is there not a proposal to add special advocates to the No Fly List ststem
A: Privacy will be drastically improved with system proposed in #C59. By centralizing the list w government, will drastically decrease the number of people with access
On special advocates: judges always have option to appoint an amicus, and judges are using that option. Also, hard to pick one program (ie, to say just the No Fly List program should have special advocates). Requires more examination.
Also a cost issue. Special advocates program is very expensive. (*Would be interesting to see a break down of these numbers/financials)
Question about Canada's use of US no fly and watch lists & human rights abuses. Specifically TUSCAN (Tip-off US Canada) list.
Answer: yes, section of SATA allows for agreements to share Canadian list internationally. Agencies regularly share information, base on carefully established agreements. Says that No Fly List only shared under strict agreements, including that it can't be shared further
Says also make sure that if someone is removed from list, that information is shared with international partners
Says that TUSCAN is based on another agreement, and unrelated to the No Fly List and doesn't affect boarding decisions. Can be used by Canadian border agents to determine who to question/what to ask.
More info on the TUSCAN list: theguardian.com/world/2018/jun…
While it isn't a "no fly list", it can be used to deny people entry into Canada (including by air). One would imagine that info from a list like TUSCAN can also play into decisions about whether a person is put on Canada's No Fly List.
In response to a question about profiling, including why it happens to be that so many Muslims are flagged for extra screening, response that Public Safety has heard these concerns, including through the consultation leading to C-59 and are working to improve public engagement
And that the new system will help reduce people being mistakenly flagged
Question about whether the process of listing and removal of someone from the list
Question about how it is a 6 year old can be confused with a 50 year old
Response is that right now the biographical information being captured is incomplete. For example, traveling domestically, don't need to out a date of birth, so only working from name
New system proposed with #C59 would allow for capture of biographical info in advance of all flights, so can better match biographical data. Goal is to reduce # of people being flagged by the system
In opening statement, @k_cajee speaks about how her 10 year old son must be visualized every flight. Being falsely flagged implicates privacy rights and right to mobility
The skewing towards Muslim and Arab sounding names also implicates right to equal treatment under the law
Speaks to the danger of faulty information being shared internationally leading to human rights abuses, citing case of @ArarMaher
US redress system has shown that 98% of requests are for people who are false positives and aren't the person listed
Next, @BashirMohamed. Speaks about coming to Canada as a refugee, obtaining citizenship in 2011. But consistently checked as a "risk" everytime he flies
Says he is the "boring" Bashir Mohamed who lives in Edmonton, bikes to work, not the Bashir Mohamed with al-Shabbab, but is continuously screened whenever he travels
Hopes that the new redress system will end situation of being a second-class citizen.
Catching up. Now it's @sarahwillzy. Speaks passionately about how she is told on multiple occasions her son should simply change his name, but that this would mean denying part of his heritage.
Question about whether there is profiling happening. @k_cajee says that certainly, anecdotal information skews that way: majority of people who have come forward have Muslim or Arabic sounding names.
Also points out that Public Safety may be running a "name blind" system now, but is a pilot project begun in the past year. Currently, people on the list have greater recourse to redress than someone who is a false positive
Here is a great piece from @sarahwillzy on what the @NoFlyListKids families go through: theglobeandmail.com/amp/opinion/ar… #noflylist #c59
Senator Yonah Martin speaks powerfully about the trauma related to this kind of security screening, and the racial profiling that she personally faces at airports and while traveling.
@BashirMohamed says he appreciates the senator bringing up trauma. Says he agrees, feels privileged to have supportive partner, and that others who don't have similar support face even greater difficulties
Question from senator @KPateontheHill : have there been proposals for informal redress solutions, ie aeroplan, and is there any discussion of lawsuit to resolve these issues?
.@k_cajee says that nexus and Aeroplan have been suggested, but are inconsistent and don't resolve the situation. Regarding going through the courts, there are absolutely no plans to sue. Goal is to make sure there's a system that works for everyone
Question about critiques of the No Fly List regarding its effectiveness, whether it violates due process, and leads to profiling
.@BashirMohamed says he agrees with the statement read out that the implementation of No Fly List is Islamophobic
.@k_cajee says from a personal perspective, agrees with critiques of the No Fly List. But with unlikelihood of actually ending No Fly List system, a string redress system is needed
The senator had quoted @BhabhaFaisal on the No Fly List. Here's what he told the Public Safety Committee about the No Fly List during their study of #C59 in Dec. 2017 
.@BashirMohamed urges government to create a system where he and others can travel without worrying
.@k_cajee says taking steps to be able to distinguish between a 6 year old and someone on a terrorist watch list should be a "no brainer". Says that if school boards can tell children with same names apart, govt should be able to do it t
.@k_cajee explains how, if there are 2,000 people listed, means that 100,000 people are facing being falsely flagged
.@sarahwillzy adds this doesn't even include when air carrier in Canada uses the US no fly list, which has upwards of 1 million people listed
Have to apologize. I copy/pasted the wrong name on this. It was Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard
