Talking to a wall has never been so much fun...

(Originally written and sent Jan. 6, 2010)

Dear Mr. Baird,

As you know, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) recently implemented a "no carry-on bags" policy for flights from Canada to the United States. This policy is unnecessarily heavy-handed and is a disservice to all air travelers. It prohibits, for example, parents from carrying a bag of activities and snacks for their non-infant children. As any experienced traveler knows, no child suffers alone, especially on a six-hour flight. The policy forces an increase in checked baggage volumes at a time when allowances for such baggage are either being reduced or converted to for-fee services. It makes lineups at carousels longer as regular travelers with a single small bag have to join the post-flight scrum they had managed to avoid on every flight before this week. The policy, in short, makes traveling by plane generally nastier than it has already become.

The safety gains from this measure are marginal at best and counterproductive at worst. Instead of a tidy bag of conveniences, passengers who already struggle to keep their parkas to themselves will now be armed with cameras swinging from their wrists, bottles of medication and God knows what else dangling from every limb. In the meantime, the guy with the explosives strapped to his thigh can blend into the resulting melee and take his seat inconspicuously unencumbered by the only things that might have made him nervous before: a bag and belongings that authorities might take a curiosity in and swab for traces of explosives. In this sense the policy actually limits opportunities for screening officers to detect malicious intent.
The most bizarre thing about this policy is that the USA does not require it, and no other country is doing anything remotely close to this. Belgians flying into the USA have been limited by their own agency to one carry-on bag, but that's it. Domestic flights in the USA are not required to do this. Flights from Mexico and England are not required to do this. Flights from Iran and Libya are not required to do this. This is a self-imposed, reactionary measure by Canadians with absolutely zero benefit to Canadians.

While security is a priority, it is not the only priority. As the Minister responsible for CATSA, please endeavour to reign in those who have forgotten this. Let our children have their sippy cups and coloring books. Let a guy bring a sandwich, a novel and a book of crossword puzzles. Being safe really doesn't have to be so brutal. We can be safe and comfortable, provided we make rational, well-thought-out decisions.

Regards,
Name Redacted
Montreal