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.

Michael is a librarian, webmaster, and researcher at the University of Victoria Diana M. Priestly Law Library. He has an MLS and MA (Medieval History) from the University of Toronto, and is the father of two youngsters.
[click on the author's name for more information]

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One Comment on “CATSA: Gunning for Your Granny”

  1. Eunice says:

    I went thru security on my wAY to vegas and I was told that i had been \randomly selected\ being a member of a visiblel minority i get randonly selected quite a bit. Wearing a camisole under my hood-i removed the hood and there was clearly nothing bulging but the security insisted on patting my upper body even as i explained to her not to touch my right breast as i was having some medical procedures going on. She \had to, she said\-i wish i could thank CATSA for putting and remind women of their woes with breast cancer-well DONE.

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