RCMP to reassign 50 air marshals
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Anti-terror program slashed; Could hamper Canada's ability to meet international commitments: ex-Mountie
By MARIAN SCOTT, The Gazette October 21, 2010
They look just like any other airline passenger, but they are Canadian travellers' last line of defence against a suicide bomber or hijacker.
And soon, there will be 25 per cent fewer air marshals boarding international flights to and from Canada to foil terrorist attacks.
About 50 officers with the Ottawa detachment of the RCMP's Canadian Air Carrier Protective Program (CACPP) learned last week they will be reassigned to other duties due to budget cuts.
"Our members were advised last week that they were eliminating the office in Ottawa," said Gaetan Delisle, president of the Association des membres de la Police Montee du Quebec (AMPMQ), a professional association representing 800 RCMP officers in Quebec as well as francophone officers in other provinces.
About 200 armed and highly specialized RCMP officers pose as ordinary passengers on international flights from Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa under the program, created in 2002 in the wake of the 9-11 bombings.
If this is the first you've heard of it, you're not alone: the terror-fighters keep a low profile for security reasons.
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Article Link
Anti-terror program slashed; Could hamper Canada's ability to meet international commitments: ex-Mountie
By MARIAN SCOTT, The Gazette October 21, 2010
They look just like any other airline passenger, but they are Canadian travellers' last line of defence against a suicide bomber or hijacker.
And soon, there will be 25 per cent fewer air marshals boarding international flights to and from Canada to foil terrorist attacks.
About 50 officers with the Ottawa detachment of the RCMP's Canadian Air Carrier Protective Program (CACPP) learned last week they will be reassigned to other duties due to budget cuts.
"Our members were advised last week that they were eliminating the office in Ottawa," said Gaetan Delisle, president of the Association des membres de la Police Montee du Quebec (AMPMQ), a professional association representing 800 RCMP officers in Quebec as well as francophone officers in other provinces.
About 200 armed and highly specialized RCMP officers pose as ordinary passengers on international flights from Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa under the program, created in 2002 in the wake of the 9-11 bombings.
If this is the first you've heard of it, you're not alone: the terror-fighters keep a low profile for security reasons.
More on link