Terrorism: Canada bans all direct air cargo flights from Yemen

Canada has banned all air cargo originating from Yemen just days after the discovery of two U.S.-bound parcel bombs from that country were stopped in Dubai and Britain.


"I want Canadians to be assured that they will be safe. We're not going to accept cargo from Yemen," Transport Minister Chuck Strahl said Monday. "We're examining the entire process in concert with our allies around the world."


While Strahl noted there are no direct flights between Canada and Yemen, he said wanted to be "absolutely clear" that the "interim measures" would ensure all cargo entering the country was safe and secure.


The precaution will be in place "for as long as it takes to ensure the security of Canadians and air cargo to Canada," added John Babcock, a spokesman for Strahl.

Britain and Germany have also banned cargo from Yemen in the wake of the security scare.


American authorities said Monday that the two bombs, hidden inside cargo packages addressed to Chicago synagogues, were meant to destroy the planes carrying them.


"Governments around the world are reacting similarly and, obviously, we have some grave concerns over what happened on the weekend," Strahl said.


"Public safety (and) security has to come first. . . . We're very concerned about that and share those concerns; (we are) working closely with our American counterparts who have taken similar actions."


The International Air Transport Association, which represents 230 airlines, including Air Canada and Air Transat, wants tougher measures to monitor cargo security following the incident.


It argues airports shouldn't be alone in trying to deal with security or terrorism threats. Instead, "supply-chain security" should be implemented long before a package is placed on a plane, said Steve Lott, spokesman for the North American branch of IATA.


"Every group that touches that piece of cargo needs to have responsibility for security, so airlines know no one has tampered with the product. Now we need to look broader, beyond what happens at the airport, because ultimately, the idea here is that the airport shouldn't be the first line of defence."


Inspections should take place each time cargo leaves a factory and each time it moves onto a new form of transportation, Lott added.


The IATA will present those arguments at an annual aviation security meeting Tuesday, when security heads from various airlines will meet in Frankfurt, Germany.


Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, former chair of the senate committee on national defence, said supply-chain security would be difficult to implement.


"Transport Canada cannot regularly check any goods being shipped; someone is named a secure shipper and that's it," he said. "People will take advantage of this and infiltrate these secured shippers."


Kenny said self-inspection programs should instead be replaced with a third-party organization conducting inspections and auditing cargo shipping.


"You can't have a system put in place and then forget it. Someone has to check that the system works and the facilities are secure," he said, suggesting Transport Canada is following a "slack system" with too few bodies to conduct routine inspections.


In May, the federal government announced a $95.7-million investment into the creation of a new Air Cargo Security Program, which would increase inspections and provide sophisticated equipment to scan cargo.


Andre Gerolymatos, a Simon Fraser University professor specializing in security and terrorism, said while he believes Canadian and American airlines share identical screening equipment, he thinks Canadian airports only conduct spot checks on cargo shipments.


He said current Canadian technology used can easily detect common explosives, but new screening equipment and protocols — which would be phased in over the next five years — will "considerably reduce" the risk of moving suspicious packages.

source: http://is.gd/gAMQv

Conservative Party: Harper's new chief of staff promises 'ethical wall'

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's incoming chief of staff has established an "ethical wall" that identifies how he won't be involved in certain issues — including discussion of the Canadian aerospace manufacturing industry — to avoid a conflict of interest.


The plan by Nigel Wright is laid out in documents provided to a parliamentary committee examining his appointment as Harper's top aide. Wright is on a temporary leave of absence from his job as managing director of Onex Corp., the Toronto-based private equity fund that manages billions of dollars in assets.


Opposition parties are concerned the temporary nature of his move to government could place the businessman in a conflict. Also, they note that Wright has worked on a wide range of issues for Onex in such areas as aerospace and defence. Critics say Wright will have to recuse himself so frequently from government discussions on those areas that he will be useless to Harper.


Wright, however, said his actions will be in full compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act, which he noted is designed to encourage "competent persons" to join government and also to "minimize the possibility of conflicts arising between the private interests and public duties of public office holders."


Wright started his leave of absence from Onex on Monday. He joins the Prime Minister's Office on Nov. 8 as a senior adviser and will become chief of staff on Jan. 1.

He said he has established a "conflict of interest screen," which he also calls an "ethical wall."


In the documents provided to MPs, he writes that he will "abstain from any involvement in the Canadian aerospace manufacturing industry."


Wright does not specifically say this would apply to discussions on the controversial F-35 fighter jet contract that has become a hot political issue, but the general wording of his promise likely means he will stay clear of the matter once in the PMO.


Furthermore, he writes that he will "abstain from any involvement in matters or issues" identified by Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson as being subject to the ethical wall.


Dawson has identified several "matters or issues" that would be considered conflicts for him in government, says Wright.


They are:

- Any dealings that Onex Corp., its operating businesses, subsidiaries and affiliates may have with the federal government (Wright provides a list of the 40 Onex businesses affected);

- The taxation of the Canadian private equity industry and its participants, including tax treatment of carried interest;

- The tax deductibility of cross-border interest expense with corporate groups;

- Any other matter that Dawson later concludes should be made part of the ethical wall;

Wright says he will not access documents, attend cabinet or committees, be briefed orally or in writing, attend meetings or participate in discussions whenever these areas are on the table.


Liberal MP Wayne Easter described Wright's plan as a "convoluted mess" that will require an "army of bureaucrats" to sort through documents to ensure he doesn't see policy areas that are supposedly blocked by the ethical wall.


Easter predicted the arrangement won't work well.


"I actually think it's an impossible task, in terms of the ethical wall and the connections that this individual has."


NDP MP Pat Martin agreed, saying Wright will be "useless" to Harper because he'll recuse himself so often.


"Mr. Wright would have to be outside the cabinet room more often than he is in. It's an untenable situation."


But Andrew MacDougall, Harper's press secretary, said Wright is pleased to talk to the MPs Tuesday about the ethical arrangements he has made to serve in government.

MacDougall said it's important to note that Onex and its subsidiary companies have never lobbied or approached the PMO.


"That will give you an idea of how often Onex is in the government's face," he said. "It hasn't been for the entire time we have been in office, so Mr. Wright will be fully able to manage his duties."


Also in documents given to MPs, Wright reveals that he has appointed deputy chief of staff, Derek Vanstone, to be the "supervisor" of the ethical wall. Vanstone will ensure other senior officials know of its existence so they exclude Wright from relevant discussions.

source: http://is.gd/gAJ8X