As a federal Crown corporation, CATSA is fully committed to supporting the federal government’s social, economic, and environmental 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 expectation from the Minister of Transport to the Chairperson of CATSA’s Board of Directors.
Ensuring Accessibility for all Canadians
The Accessible Canada Act came into force in 2019. Since then, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) published regulations that uphold higher standards for accessibility in the transportation sector. CATSA has been working with the CTA to ensure the organization’s compliance with new regulations under the Accessible Canada Act. These regulations will guide efforts to further strengthen the delivery of accessible services to the travelling public. In addition, CATSA has also been addressing other regulatory requirements which are focused on its employees and workplace but are governed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). For example, CATSA is providing training to employees on the importance of creating an accessible workplace, conducting reviews of the physical workspace, and regular reviews of the organization’s internal policies and procedures. CATSA has consolidated the CTA and ESDC reporting into one Accessibility Plan and will do the same for future progress reports.
CATSA published its first Accessibility Plan in December 2022, which describes the current state of the organization’s implementation of policies, programs, practices and services related to accessibility, and provides an overview of the plan for implementing new action items. Prior to publication, CATSA conducted an open consultation with the public and reached out to organizations representing the interests of persons with disabilities in addition to consulting its own workforce as well as the screening officer workforce.
In addition to the development of the Accessibility Plan, CATSA has created a cross-functional working group to measure progress on accessibility action items and federal regulatory requirements. This work complements the organization’s ongoing efforts towards identifying, limiting and removing inherent barriers for passengers, non-passengers, screening officers and CATSA personnel with disabilities.
The Office of the Auditor General released the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities report in March 2023. The report focused on whether or not CATSA identified and removed existing barriers, and worked towards preventing transportation barriers for persons with disabilities.
The Office of the Auditor General’s Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities report (2023), focused on whether or not CATSA identified and removed existing barriers, and worked towards preventing transportation barriers for persons with disabilities. This report can be accessed publicly. Three recommendations for improvement were provided:
- Meeting website accessibility standards;
- Timeliness for accessibility training and further consultations with persons with disabilities related to that training; and
- Developing and implementing a strategy to better analyze complaint data.
CATSA has developed an action plan to address each recommendation and remains committed to continuing its work towards removing barriers within the transportation system. The activities outlined the action plan have already been initiated or completed, and the action plan should be completed in its entirety in 2024. Specifically, CATSA is taking action to:
- Update its website and ensure, on an ongoing basis, that all content fully meets web accessibility standards;
- Monitor and update training content, consult on teaching methods, and train CATSA managers and decision-makers on disability awareness in a timely-manner; and
- Improve the analysis of complaint data as it relates to barriers experienced by persons with disabilities.
Stakeholder Testimonial
AccessibilityLeandre Casselman
Spinal Cord Injury CanadaIt was a very rewarding and insightful experience working with CATSA on their new training material. As an individual with a physical disability, it was gratifying to have an impact on contributing to CATSA employees and screening contractors developing a better understanding of how to interact with the disability community in the performance of their security and screening duties. I am confident that the outcome will be improved safety for air travellers and at the same time having travellers with physical disabilities receiving respectful and professional treatment consistently when travelling by air in Canada.
Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
CATSA is fully committed to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The organization has engaged with Indigenous Elders to learn more about how aviation security screening can affect sacred and spiritual items. CATSA undertook this initiative within the larger context of reconciliation, responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 57, which calls upon the Government of Canada to educate public servants on the history and experiences of Indigenous peoples.
This engagement informed necessary changes to CATSA’s screening procedures for sacred items, and resulted in learning on Indigenous cultural awareness for screening officers, supervisors and CATSA personnel. This review and learning enhances the screening service offered to Indigenous travellers by teaching screening officers about the importance of sacred items and by establishing special procedures as we continue to endeavor to screen these items respectfully.
In addition, the organization hosted a transformative territorial acknowledgments session in June 2022; the discussions from this session positions CATSA to better understand the traditional Indigenous territories in which the 89 designated airports are located. The organization will continue to explore initiatives and engagements aimed at increasing the representation of Indigenous peoples in our workforce and to ensure sacred and spiritual items are treated respectfully during the screening process.
Culture of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
CATSA is committed to promoting a strong and dedicated culture of diversity, equality and inclusion both in the organization’s security screening operations, and also among its workforce. CATSA has undertaken a variety of initiatives to improve and promote these values, including the implementation of Gender-based Analysis Plus, meeting requirements under the Official Languages Act, and continuing meaningful consultations with Indigenous leaders.
CATSA prioritizes efforts to ensure that screening technologies and procedures respect Canada’s diverse population, to the extent that the regulatory framework will allow. It is paramount to the organization that all travellers are screened in an inclusive and respectful manner, which includes seeking input on screening processes from a broad array of stakeholders. Working together with important partners allows CATSA to fully embrace diversity, equality and inclusion and incorporate these important tenets into the organization’s values and practices.
As an example of the collaboration that fuels CATSA’s diversity, equality and inclusion principles, in fall 2022, the organization continued to consult with disability advocacy groups to inform and improve screening officer training. Representatives from these organizations participated in a video shoot to speak about their lived experiences; these videos will be incorporated into updated training and online learning modules. CATSA is committed to ongoing engagement with associations and groups representing the interests of passengers in order to ensure that the screening process is as inclusive as possible, to the extent that the regulatory framework will allow.
Associated with the efforts to procure new full body scanners (FBS), CATSA is assessing a new algorithm to enable both gender-neutral screening. In March 2023, CATSA started a trial of this algorithm at Calgary International Airport. Subject to trial results and Transport Canada approval, all remaining FBS units will be upgraded to utilize a gender-neutral algorithm.
As part of CATSA’s commitment to ensuring its workforce reflects the unique diversity of Canada, the organization continues to be focused on employment equity measures to recruit and retain a dedicated and diverse workforce. It is a critical element of the organization’s human resources strategy to foster inclusive and respectful behaviours throughout the workplace by ensuring that policies, processes and practices are in place to meet the needs of its employees and to promote inclusivity and equality.
CATSA’s Diversity and Inclusion Network (DIN) is a transparent forum that assists the organization in integrating diversity and inclusion values and practices into all existing and future corporate processes, through the overarching Diversity and Inclusion Framework. CATSA works with the DIN to identify potential barriers to employment equity, provide employees with career management sessions and toolkits, and introduce a variety of diversity and inclusion initiatives and training sessions. The DIN engages with employees throughout the year, highlighting various cultural and religious events, as well as offers tools to promote a diverse and inclusive culture in the workplace.
Gender-based Analysis Plus
CATSA incorporates GBA Plus principles into its decision-making processes, employment and recruitment practices, and operational screening procedures. Progress on CATSA’s efforts towards creating a barrier-free, inclusive, and sensitive environment will be measured against the organization’s GBA Plus Action Plan that was completed in December 2022. CATSA developed action items in collaboration with all of its branches, and with the support of the DIN, in order to honour and support the diversity of both its workforce and of the travelling public. For example, CATSA formalized a process to ensure all major projects are reviewed from a GBA Plus perspective. This enables project managers to prevent, identify, and remove barriers to airport security screening for both travellers as well as for screening officers, non-passengers and CATSA employees.
Climate-related Disclosures
In support of the Government of Canada’s objectives outlined in Budget 2021, CATSA is preparing to adopt the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
In early 2022/23, a TCFD adoption roadmap was developed, which details key activities and milestones. CATSA also developed a Climate Disclosure Policy and undertook the organization’s first Climate-risk and Opportunity Assessment. Lastly, a greenhouse gas emissions inventory was created, which includes CATSA’s known emission sources and a related data gap analysis. Ultimately, CATSA continues to work towards including TCFD compliant disclosures in its 2025 Annual Report.
Official Languages and Official Languages Act Requirements
Under Part IV of the Official Languages Act, CATSA is required to provide screening services to the travelling public in both official languages at airports with one million or more passengers, and at airports where there is a significant demand for services in the minority language.
In an effort towards continuous improvement, CATSA surveys passengers across the country on a quarterly basis to verify if they were served in their preferred language. Survey results, along with compliance measurement reports and complaints, are analyzed and used to improve front-line performance.
CATSA remains committed to promoting a bilingual work environment and continues to remind its employees that promoting an inclusive, bilingual culture in the workplace is a team effort. To ensure a collaborative approach to official languages, CATSA’s Official Languages Champion chairs the Advisory Committee on Official Languages, comprised of employees representing all branches and regions, with the goal of providing representative advice and support to the organization’s official languages secretariat.
In order to guide CATSA’s compliance with its official languages obligations and its continued commitment to development on matters related to official languages, the organization maintains an Official Languages Plan, most recently updated at the end of 2022/23 to reflect the most current landscape.
Furthermore, CATSA was selected by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL) to participate in an Official Languages Maturity Model (OLMM) initiative which began in the fall of 2021. The OLMM is a tool for assessing and improving organizational processes with respect to official languages obligations. The OLMM and the associated progress plan were developed in close collaboration with the OCOL and will help CATSA mature some of its official languages practices, from its hiring and leadership initiatives, to the services to the public.
Open and Transparent Government
The Government of Canada has committed to a high standard of openness and transparency. This begins with timely compliance with obligations under the Access to Information Act, the Privacy Act, and related Treasury Board of Canada directives.
In order to maintain transparency and openness with the broader public, CATSA discloses its wait times and passenger traffic volumes, and publishes critical bulletins, information materials and periodic reports online. In 2022/23, CATSA continued to enhance its data sharing with government and industry partners to support economic recovery and strengthen data transparency.
CATSA also conducts quarterly passenger surveys and hosts a website with mechanisms for enquiries and feedback, and participates in active consultations to engage industry representatives and other stakeholders. These activities enable CATSA to enhance its positive impact on and contribution to the aviation industry, and expand the opportunities for passengers to provide meaningful input.
CATSA holds annual Public Meetings and its Corporate Plan Summaries and Annual Reports are tabled in Parliament, and published on the organization’s website. CATSA also provides responses to enquiries and requests for information from Parliament, the Auditor General of Canada and other government authorities.
Report of Access to Information Act and Privacy Act Requests
CATSA strives to incorporate the legislative obligations under the Privacy Act and the ten principles of the Canadian Standards Association Model Code into every program and activity that it develops. CATSA is subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act and strives to meet both the spirit and the legal requirements of these two Acts.