The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms warns that mandatory biometrics for domestic flights could raise Section 8 Charter concerns over unreasonable search and seizure.
“A government requirement that Canadians surrender fingerprints or facial information as a condition of domestic air travel would therefore raise serious questions about whether the intrusion into their privacy is justified and reasonable,” Justice Centre President John Carpay told Juno News.
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) proposed using biometrics at pre-board screening in its 2026–31 corporate plan, citing improved efficiency.
The plan doesn’t say whether travellers who refuse a scan could be denied boarding.
“CATSA will not be the authority to determine whether biometrics should be mandatory,” spokesperson Anna Maddison told Blacklock’s Reporter.
“Any decisions related to use of biometric technology are matters of government policy and would be made by Transport Canada.”
It is worth noting that the security authority already uses iris and fingerprint biometrics to verify authorized airport workers and other non-passengers.
Carpay, meanwhile, questioned why passengers should provide biometrics when conventional ID already verifies their identity.
“Showing a passport or driver’s licence already achieves the basic purpose of verifying that I am the person who bought the ticket,” he said.
“Facial recognition and fingerprint scanning go further by requiring Canadians to surrender highly personal biometric information.”
Carpay then raised concerns over who would control, store or share the data, warning biometric information cannot simply be replaced if compromised.
He clarified that whether mandatory biometrics would violate the Charter depends on how the system operates and whether Ottawa can justify the intrusion.
“But mandatory collection of biometric information should not be treated as a trivial administrative matter,” Carpay said.
Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis has also raised biometric privacy concerns through petition E-6961, citing government overreach, data breaches and identity theft.
Ottawa has dismissed those concerns, saying it is “not developing a mandatory national digital ID system” or a “centralized [biometric] database.”
Carpay nevertheless warned that voluntary infrastructure could eventually be expanded.
“A system can begin as voluntary and later become effectively mandatory,” he said. “Governments change, policies change, and laws change.”
A 2022 CBSA survey also found 32 per cent of respondents were uncomfortable with the agency collecting more personal information to facilitate smoother border crossings. The survey concerned international travel and did not ask about biometric screening for domestic flights.
Carpay said Canadians should always retain a non-biometric option.
“Canadians should not have to choose between surrendering highly sensitive biometric information and giving up the ability to travel by air within their own country.”