Published today in Ottawa Citizen:
Published: Thursday, July 05, 2007
Re: No-fly list grounds Orleans teen, June 30.
The recent incidents of boys of 10 and 15 being banned from flying merely based on their names matching those on the no-fly list make clear that Canada and the international anti-terror officials are incompetent at identifying people.
My brother-in-law is repeatedly stopped at the U.S. border for the same reason. It doesn't matter how often he produces evidence -- passport, driver's license, birth certificate -- he is always stopped and always questioned.
Given today's state of biometrics identification, photographs, passport ID numbers, etc., that a mere list of names is deemed sufficient to deny someone entry into a country or to board a plane points to overzealousness, incompetence by security agencies and a complete disregard for the rights of those with the same name who are not the intended suspect.
It suggests that all terrorists need to do is change their names to avoid being barred, while those who share the same name will be harassed in perpetuity.
Given Canada's claim to supporting privacy and people's rights, any such list barring people must have the means for those who are not the identified suspect to be clearly identified and cleared.
Neil Thomson,
Kanata