CATSA is committed to supporting Government of Canada priorities, as set out in the Speech from the Throne, the government’s budget plans, the mandate letter from the Prime Minister to the Minister of Transport, and the letter of expectations from the Minister of Transport to the Chairperson of CATSA’s Board of Directors (see Appendix A).
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. An overview of CATSA’s ERM Profile can be found below.
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).
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 2024/25 – 2028/29 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 has one Core Responsibility: to deliver effective, efficient and consistent security screening for civil aviation that is in the interest of the travelling public at designated airports, by way of PBS, HBS, NPS, and the RAIC program.
CATSA is an agent Crown corporation with a Board of Directors appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport.
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 civil aviation security screening mandate in accordance with the resources it is assigned by the Government of Canada.
Please see Appendix G: Risks and Risks Response for more information on CATSA’s enterprise risks, including definitions of the key corporate risks outlined below.
Despite the positive impacts on staff capacity stemming from the addition of eighty-four full-time equivalent positions, CATSA may face a sustained staff capacity risk over the planning period as a result of dynamic operational pressures, numerous corporate priorities, and labour market conditions, among other factors.
