Under provisions of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Act (the CATSA Act), and within the framework of the Aeronautics Act, CATSA is responsible for the screening of persons who access aircraft or restricted airport areas, the property in their possession or control, and the belongings that they give to an air carrier for transportation at designated airports across the country.
Risk management is embedded into strategic decision-making and resource allocation within CATSA, thereby allowing the organization to make informed decisions at the corporate and operational levels.
CATSA manages its corporate risks through an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, and maintains a comprehensive overview of its risk profile, including descriptions of key operational and financial risks, risk ratings as measured by likelihood and impact of risk occurrence, and risk mitigation strategies.
CATSA’s overall risk attitude is conservative and flexible.
CATSA’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and approved by the Accounting Standards Board of Canada (AcSB).
Note that the financial statements below do not include cost recovery (refer to page 16 for more information).
In my capacity as Chief Financial Officer of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), accountable to the Board of Directors of CATSA through the Chief Executive Officer, I have reviewed the 2025/26 – 2029/30 Corporate Plan and budgets, and the supporting information that I considered necessary, as of the date indicated below. Based on this due diligence review, I make the following conclusions:
CATSA uses a number of key indicators to set operational performance targets and to monitor, assess and report on progress and achievements in areas of critical importance to the fulfillment of its mandate, mission, and strategic objectives.
CATSA is governed by an eleven-member Board of Directors appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport, independent from CATSA’s senior management team. The airline industry and the airport industry nominate two directors each.
The Board of Directors and its committees meet on a quarterly basis and as required to effectively oversee the corporation’s business and strategic direction. The Board of Directors has a number of ongoing responsibilities, including:
March 24, 2023
Thao Pham
Chairperson of the Board of Directors
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
Dear Thao Pham:
Please allow me to begin by congratulating you on your appointment as Chair of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA). I am grateful that you have accepted to serve as Chair of this Crown corporation given the important role it plays in the effective delivery of screening services for Canadians.
As an appropriated Crown corporation, CATSA delivers its aviation security screening mandate in accordance with the resources it is assigned by the Government of Canada.
CATSA’s strategic objectives are categorized within four overarching pillars:
CATSA analyzes its internal and external operating environment to plan strategically and innovate to deliver its mandate.
CATSA’s environmental scan details the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges (SWOC) that the organization is facing now and is expected to encounter over the planning period.
