Legal Research

CATSA: Gunning for Your Granny

By Michael Lines

On January 4 the Canadian Air Transportation and Security Authority caught their first terrorist with the new Rapiscan at the Calgary airport.

Sorry, did I say terrorist? I meant Granny. She was detained for a secondary search when it was discovered the gel contained in her prosthetic breast was likley more than 3 oz. “Being in public, and being touched like that, it was really, really not called for,” she said.

After all, I was coming home from Christmas with my kids [in Calgary]. I didn’t go into a different country, I didn’t go across the country. I went on a one-hour flight home and they made me feel as though I was a terrorist. That I resent with all my heart.

See the Vancouver Sun story here.

The CATSA decided to run an investigation, and issued a mealy-mouthed half apology. Dissatisfied, she has since filed a formal complaint. Apart from the pettiness, there are real issues here for the elderly and disabled who may not be able to meet the expectations of airport security martinets with proper alacrity.

Full post as published by Slaw.ca on January 21, 2011 (boomark / email).