The specified-persons list consists of the name, date of birth and gender of individuals who have been identified as people who may pose a threat to aviation security.

Transport Canada holds, controls and manages the SPL. It is used to communicate the names of specified persons to air carriers so they can meet their obligations under the Identity Screening Regulations.

The list is dynamic and it is updated as often as necessary based on intelligence information. The list is re-issued to air carriers as changes are made, or at least every 30 days, in a format containing a limited amount of information (name, date of birth and gender) for the purpose of screening passenger identity to detect specified persons.

The airlines compare the names of individuals intending to board flights with the names on the Specified Persons List. When there is a name match, the airline will use the individual's government-issued identification information to verify whether it matches the name, date of birth and gender of someone on the list. This verification is done in person, at the airport check-in counter.

When there is a potential match, the airline is required to inform Transport Canada. Transport Canada will then verify the information with the airline. If the information matches, Transport Canada will decide whether the individual poses an immediate threat to aviation security. Transport Canada will inform the airline if an emergency direction will be made.

Specified Persons List Advisory Group

An advisory group chaired by Transport Canada is responsible for reviewing information regarding potential candidates for the list and recommending additions or removals from the list to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

This group consists of the Chair, the Transport Canada member, and one member each from the RCMP and CSIS, who are both senior officials within their respective organizations. Other government officials may be invited to present information from time to time.

The members of the advisory group assess information on a case-by-case basis, and then recommend that names be added to or removed from the list to the Minister.

The advisory group has the responsibility of assessing whether a person under consideration for recommendation as a specified person, would pose a threat to transportation or, more specifically, aviation security.

To do so, CSIS and the RCMP generate or receive intelligence or information on individuals. This information is presented to the advisory group for consideration. The advisory group then reviews the information presented. To assist in their deliberations, they consider:

• The individual's past history with regards to acts of violence, terrorism, criminal acts and/or convictions, active association with known or suspected terrorists and/or terrorist groups and their personal history of terrorist acts;
• The individual's intent with regards to engaging in a hostile act that may involve or threaten transportation or aviation; and,
• The individual's capability based on their knowledge, abilities and/or experience, which may be used to threaten or harm aviation or transportation.

The advisory group also balances their analysis by considering:

• Historical, intent and capability indicators that would offer alternate explanations or suggest that there is a diminution of the threat.

Once their analysis is complete, they decide whether the information is sufficient and/or substantive enough to make a recommendation to the Minister that the individual should be specified.

Finally, the Minister determines who will be specified based on the information prepared by the Advisory Group, which includes information regarding the individual’s actions and activities presented to the Advisory Group, as well as their recommendation.

The process is very similar when the advisory group receives information that warrants a recommendation to remove an individual from the specified persons list.