The Anti-Terrorism Act and Security Measures in Canada: Public Views, Impacts and Travel Experiences

Appendix B

Table 5: Crossing Border And Airport Experiences

34a. Over the last four years, have you travelled by air within Canada?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 765 45% 170 44% 585 45% NS
No 934 55% 219 56% 708 55%  
DK / NA 4 0% 1 0% 2 0%  
  1703 100% 390 100% 1295 100%  

34b. Over the last four years, have you travelled by air between Canada and the US?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 559 33% 125 32% 428 33% NS
No 1142 67% 265 68% 866 67%  
DK / NA 2 0% 0 0% 1 0%  
  1703 100% 390 100% 1295 100%  

34c. Over the last four years, have you travelled by air between Canada and countries outside of North America?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 499 29% 132 34% 362 28% NS
No 1202 71% 258 66% 932 72%  
DK / NA 2 0% 0 0% 1 0%  
  1703 100% 390 100% 1295 100%  

34d. Over the last years, have you traveled between Canada and the US by other means (i.e. car, train, boat)?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 769 45% 176 45% 587 45% NS
No 932 55% 214 55% 707 55%  
DK / NA 2 0% 0 0% 1 0%  
  1703 100% 390 100% 1295 100%  

Follow-up to 34a.

35. In the last four years, while passing through Canadian airport security, aside from the typical security checks that everyone goes through, did you ever get taken aside and given additional screening by Canadian airport security?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 162 21% 36 21% 124 21% NS
No 599 78% 132 78% 459 78%  
DK / NA 4 1% 2 1% 2 0%  
  765 100% 170 100% 585 100%  

36. What was the nature of the additional screening?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Personally searched 32 20% 6 17% 25 20% NS
Property searched (e.g. luggage, handbag, computer, etc.) 106 65% 20 56% 84 68% NS
Documentation was questioned 4 2% 1 3% 1 2% ~
Removed shoes, belt, etc. 29 18% 6 17% 23 19% NS
Questioned about travel plans 10 6% 3 8% 6 5% ~
Put through metal detector 7 4% 2 6% 5 4% ~
Randomly selected 7 4% 3 8% 4 3% ~
Was Questioned (various) 6 4% 3 8% 3 2% ~
Other 23 14% 8 22% 15 12% NS
DK / NA 4 2% 2 6% 2 2% ~
  162   36   124    

37. Do you think the additional screening was justified to ensure public safety?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 114 70% 28 78% 85 69% NS
No 47 29% 8 22% 38 31%  
DK / NA 1 1% 0 0% 1 1%  
  162 100% 36 100% 124 100%  

Follow-up to 34b.

38. In the last four years, while passing through Agmerican airport security, aside from the typical security checks that everyone goes through, did you ever get taken aside and given additional screening by American airport security personnel?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 142 25% 28 22% 112 26% NS
No 416 74% 97 78% 316 74%  
DK / NA 1 0% 0 0% 0 0%  
  559 100% 125 100% 428 100%  

39. What was the nature of the additional screening?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Personally searched 39 27% 6 21% 33 29% NS
Property searched (e.g. luggage, handbag, computer, etc.) 74 52% 11 39% 63 56% NS
Documentation was questioned 14 10% 4 14% 9 8% ~
Removed shoes, belt, etc. 49 35% 4 14% 45 40% ~
Questioned about travel plans 17 12% 5 18% 12 11% ~
Put through metal detector 6 4% 0 0% 6 5% ~
Randomly selected 4 3% 2 7% 2 2% ~
Was questioned (various) 5 4% 2 7% 1 1% ~
Scanned/test for explosive materials 2 1% 0 0% 2 2% ~
Harassment/racism 1 1% 1 4% 0 0% ~
Other 17 12% 3 11% 12 11% ~
DK / NA 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% ~
  142   28   112    

40. Do you think the additional screening was justified to ensure public safety?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 102 72% 18 64% 83 74% NS
No 39 27% 10 36% 28 25%  
DK / NA 1 1% 0 0% 1 1%  
  142 100% 28 100% 112 100%  

Follow-up to 34c.

41. In the last four years, while passing through airport security in a foreign country other than the U.S., aside from the typical security checks that everyone goes through, did you ever get taken aside and given additional screening by foreign airport security personnel?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 62 12% 15 11% 46 13% NS
No 436 87% 117 89% 315 87%  
DK / NA 1 0% 0 0% 1 0%  
  499 100% 132 100% 362 100%  

42. What was the nature of the additional screening?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Personally searched 17 27% 4 27% 13 28% ~
Property searched (e.g. luggage, handbag, computer, etc.) 31 50% 9 60% 21 46% NS
Documentation was questioned 5 8% 2 13% 3 7% ~
Removed shoes, belt, etc. 6 10% 2 13% 4 9% ~
Questioned about travel plans 4 6% 1 7% 3 7% ~
Randomly selected 1 2% 1 7% 0 0% ~
Was questioned (various) 4 6% 0 0% 3 7% ~
Other 7 11% 2 13% 4 9% ~
DK / NA 2 3% 0 0% 2 4% ~
  62   15   46    

43. Do you think the additional screening was justified to ensure public safety?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 46 74% 9 60% 37 80% NS
No 16 26% 6 40% 9 20%  
DK / NA 0 0% 0 0% 0 0%  
  62 100% 15 100% 46 100%  

47. While crossing the border into the another country other than the U.S. from Canada, aside from the typical checks at the border that everyone gets, did you receive additional screening by border officials?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 23 5% 6 5% 17 5% NS
No 472 95% 126 95% 341 94%  
DK / NA 4 1% 0 0% 4 1%  
  499 100% 132 100% 362 100%  

48. What was the nature of the additional screening by U.S. border officials?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Personally searched 3 13% 1 17% 2 12% ~
Property searched (e.g. luggage, handbag, computer, etc.) 10 43% 4 67% 6 35% ~
Documentation was questioned 6 26% 0 0% 6 35% ~
Picture and fingerprint was taken 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% ~
Was taken to an office and questioned 2 9% 0 0% 2 12% ~
Was questioned (various) 3 13% 3 50% 0 0% ~
Other 5 22% 3 50% 2 12% ~
DK / NA 1 4% 0 0% 1 6% ~
  23   6   17    

49. Do you think the additional screening was justified to ensure public safety?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 15 65% 4 67% 11 65% NS
No 7 30% 2 33% 5 29%  
DK / NA 1 4% 0 0% 1 6%  
  23 100% 6 100% 17 100%  

Follow-up to 34b and 34d.

44. While crossing the border aside from the typical checks at the border that everyone gets, did you receive additional screening by U.S. border officials?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 170 18% 44 20% 125 17% NS
No 790 82% 174 79% 608 82%  
DK / NA 7 1% 2 1% 5 1%  
  967 100% 220 100% 738 100%  

45. What was the nature of the additional screening?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Personally searched 15 9% 5 11% 9 7% NS
Property searched (e.g. luggage, handbag, computer, etc.) 81 48% 24 55% 56 45% NS
Documentation was questioned 52 31% 14 32% 38 30% NS
Picture and fingerprint was taken 3 2% 1 2% 2 2% ~
Was taken to an office and questioned 26 15% 8 18% 18 14% NS
Criminal record/security background check 6 4% 2 5% 4 3% ~
Randomly selected 1 1% 1 2% 0 0% ~
Was questioned (various) 19 11% 6 14% 13 10% NS
Screened for taxes/duty 3 2% 0 0% 3 2% ~
Harassment/racism 2 1% 1 2% 1 1% ~
Other 35 21% 10 23% 25 20% NS
DK / NA 3 2% 1 2% 2 2% ~
  170   44   125    

46. Do you think the additional screening was justified to ensure public safety?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 86 51% 23 52% 63 50% NS
No 83 49% 21 48% 61 49%  
DK / NA 1 1% 0 0% 1 1%  
  170 100% 44 100% 125 100%  

RETURNING TO CANADA

50. While crossing the border back into Canada from the U.S. or another country, aside from the typical checks at the border that everyone goes through, did you receive additional screening by Canadian border officials?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 91 8% 25 10% 65 8% NS
No 986 89% 226 88% 751 89%  
DK / NA 31 3% 7 3% 24 3%  
  1108 100% 258 100% 840 100%  

51. What was the nature of the additional screening?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Personally searched 8 9% 2 8% 5 8% ~
Property searched (e.g. luggage/handbag/computer/etc.) 50 55% 14 56% 35 54% NS
Documentation was questioned 26 29% 8 32% 18 28% NS
Picture and fingerprint was taken 0 0% 0 0% 0 0% ~
Was taken to an office and questioned 12 13% 3 12% 9 14% ~
Was questioned (various) 4 4% 1 4% 3 5% ~
Screened for taxes/duty 2 2% 0 0% 2 3% ~
Harassment/racism 2 2% 2 8% 0 0% ~
Other 11 12% 4 16% 7 11% ~
DK / NA 3 3% 0 0% 3 5% ~

52. Do you think the additional screening was justified to ensure public safety?
  Total Sample Comparison
Minority Non-minority P
n % n % n %
Yes 50 55% 13 52% 37 57% NS
No 39 43% 12 48% 26 40%  
DK / NA 2 2% 0 0% 2 3%  
  91 100% 25 100% 65 100%