Travellers to foot airport police bill as Ottawa cuts back

[Kip Powick]

OTTAWA – Transport Canada has quietly eliminated funding to the country’s major airports to hire police officers to patrol the terminals, a move that leaves passengers stuck with the bill.

The move comes as Transport Minister John Baird publicly touts........................

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/792512--travellers-to-foot-airport-police-bill-as-ottawa-cuts-back?bn=1

[dagger]

OTTAWA – Transport Canada has quietly eliminated funding to the country's major airports to hire police officers to patrol the terminals, a move that leaves passengers stuck with the bill.

The move comes as Transport Minister John Baird publicly touts........................

http://www.thestar.c...-cuts-back?bn=1

Another non-tax from John Baird. More travellers head to Burlington, Buffalo and Bellingham.

Brilliant.

[Guest woxof]

If only we had an opposition party in power. Maybe our taxes would go down.

[Hadji Ramjet]

Or maybe contract to City Police, which could prove more effective at lower cost given that RCMP airport duty was often allocated to the sick, lame and lazy?

[chockalicious]

Re the cost, there is no reason why this additional expense could not be funded from the existing AIF revenues, of course the airports might have to cut back on the expensive marble, art gallerys etc. .........

I think in most AIF agreements it is usually specified that the AIF is to be used for facility improvements and none of it is to go to operations.

Of course there is no external oversight so the airports will keep up the competition to see who has the splashiest facility.

[Super 80]

They aren't even done yet, there is a proposal circulating in Ottawa for another fee to support "green transportation alternatives" meaning a fee to subsidize VIA RAIL!

[conehead]

Or maybe contract to City Police, which could prove more effective at lower cost given that RCMP airport duty was often allocated to the sick, lame and lazy?

As you transit YYZ, you'll see Peel Regional on patrol in T1.

[ccairspace]

As you transit YYZ, you'll see Peel Regional on patrol in T1.

...and Calgary City Police have been patrolling YYC for at least 10 years. RCMP are there only in conjunction to Section assignments. (Eg: undercover drugs).

Of course, the funding for the airport office may come from the federal government and not Calgary taxpayers.

[Super 80]

What about the officers employed in the pre-clearance areas? How are they funded?

I was surprised that didn't come up in the 2009 consultation for the 5-year review of the pre-clearance act.

The provision and funding of "Canadian Officers" isn't specified in the pre-clearance act.

[tsgas]

It's thanks to mr.Paul Martin ( the Liberals)that all this governmant downloading came about.

So just vote Liberal and relive the mess that Ontario finds itself in.

[better4me]

So what's the standard police complement at our airports? is it 2 officers roaming the terminal or a larger complement of 6-10 full time plus a few other part timers?

There is ample evidence that these airport cops are not using their full range of specialised training and may be they would be better deployed on more pressing matters such as high crime areas, downtown beat patrol, gang and drug units, etc.

Of course no airport authority is going to publicly announce a reduction in police presence, but a quiet downsizing and reallocation of workforce deployment could be accomplished with little fuss.

What would also be interesting is if a an aiport decided to impose a special surecharge or AIF increase to cover this police presence. The airport will have to justify to the media (even if only for one day) why the policing presence is needed and that could cause a bit of PR discomfort to said airport. Think about YVR with the polish tazer incident still fresh in everyones mind.

[conehead]

Peel cops on patrol...