Canada implements electronics checks

Air passengers will have to remove cases, show officers their devices will power up

Anyone flying out of a Canadian airport will have one more thing to worry about after the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) implemented new random security checks of electronic devices.

Matching changes introduced in the United States last week, Canadian air travellers can now expect random checks of any electronic devices larger than a cellphone, Mathieu Larocque, a spokesman for CATSA, said after a news conference Wednesday at Edmonton International Airport.

This change, phased in on flights entering the United States last week and implemented on all flights out of major Canadian airports Wednesday, will impact travellers on all Canadian flights, both domestic and international.

While he would not provide much detail about the screening process, citing security concerns, Larocque said most passengers selected for the additional screening will only have devices larger than a cellphone inspected.

That being said, some passengers may have their smartphones checked.

Larocque said those selected for the additional screening will now be asked to remove any covers or protective cases from their devices and be asked to turn the device on.

The screening will not include inspecting any data on the device.

“We have no mandate to search the data on electronic items, that’s not our responsibility. Our responsibility is strictly security,” Larocque said. “We will never ask passengers for passwords or to show the content of the items, photos, documents or data. That is not something that we do.”

Larocque is advising travellers to ensure cases on electronics can be easily removed or are removed in advance, and that the devices are sufficiently charged to power up upon request.

Should your device lose its charge before going through the screening, Larocque said travellers will be allowed to plug in their device to a nearby outlet to demonstrate the device can be powered on.

Devices that can’t be powered on or cannot be taken out of their cases will not be permitted past the screening checkpoint.