New revelations show that Veterans Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn had a heated confrontation with airport security officials over a bottle of tequila that he tried to bring through security following his prorogation vacation to Mexico.
Minister Blackburn’s behaviour was apparently so heated that security officials considered calling in the RCMP. Before finally acquiescing to the security rules, Minister Blackburn accused security officials of attempting to steal his tequila, insisting that they pour it out before his eyes.
It now turns out that the Minister’s brazen disregard for air safety regulations would violate the very same air security rules that he announced in his capacity as a government minister on May 5, 2009, when he rolled out investments in support of the initiation of airport security plans.
Here are details of the announcement that stand in stark contrast to Minister Blackburn’s behaviour:
“Airport security plans will promote the coordination and integration of airport security, something that will greatly benefit travellers at airports across the country,” the May 5, 2009 news release quotes Mr. Blackburn as saying. “These new initiatives show that the Government of Canada is committed to strengthening aviation security on all fronts.”
The Minister’s press release notes that the airport security plan initiative was inspired by the findings and recommendations in Flight Plan: Managing the Risks in Aviation Security, the Report of the Advisory Panel on the review of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Act.
The plans clearly detail the threat posed by liquids:
“Experts have long known that certain substances, such as the liquid explosives believed to be part of the alleged bomb plot uncovered in the U.K. in August 2006, are difficult to detect using existing equipment. The prohibition of liquids, gels, aerosols and lighters from carry-on baggage was a necessary response to the threat.” (Flight Plan: Managing the Risks in Aviation Security, p. 52)
“For urgent matters, Emergency Directions and Interim Orders are used to address immediate risks and threats to aviation security. This was the administrative tool, used on August 10, 2006 after discovery of the alleged U.K. plot to use liquid explosives on aircraft, that directed CATSA not to allow liquids beyond the screening area.” (Flight Plan: Managing the Risks in Aviation Security, p. 80)
“The recent alleged terrorist plot in London resulted in an immediate ban on liquids and gels in carry-on luggage. Although these are appropriate responses to specific threats, we must expect that terrorists will be looking for new methods of attack calculated to evade existing security measures.” (Flight Plan: Managing the Risks in Aviation Security, p. 151)
“New and ingenious methods of concealing weapons or explosive devices within apparently innocuous objects such as liquids or gels also pose a threat.” (Flight Plan: Managing the Risks in Aviation Security, p. 156)
