Canada imposes new air security measures

Marc Garneau, the minister in charge of the department, made this announcement after the cabinet meeting but declined to comment in detail about the measures citing need for secrecy.

Minister Garneau claimed these imposed measures would ensure greater security on flights coming to Canada “from certain countries” but did not give further details of the listed countries.

The National Airlines Council of Canada, which represents major carriers including Air Canada, had no immediate comment.

With this announcement, Canada joins Britain and United States who had since last month barred passengers traveling from several Muslim-majority countries in Middle East and Africa.

Meanwhile, Garneau assured Canada has not followed suit on that measure and electronic devices continue to be permitted in airline cabins. The minister reiterated the latest decision is based on the government’s “evaluation of risk.”

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale supported the measures taken by the Transportation Ministry saying the move was based on evidence,

Following the steps of Garneau, the minister also avoided answering directly to the measures prompting the security threat. He did not answer directly when asked if the measures were prompted by a specific threat.

“We take all the necessary precautions to make sure that Canadians are kept safe in all of their activities, both within the country and travel around the world,” minister Goodale said.

​(Reporting by Suman Das​)