Mixed feelings towards naked body scanners
Posted Jan 6, 2010 02:33:08 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Ottawa’s decision to purchase body scanners for major Canadian airports is getting mixed reaction here in Halifax.
Civil liberties lawyer Walter Thompson considers the scanners an infringement, but says they’re something we’ll have to live with.
“It’s intrusive and whether it will fly in Canada might be a different question,” says Thompson.
“But certainly for the purposes of going to the United States we’re going to have to live with it.”
The government announced Tuesday it is buying 44 of the scanners at $250,000 a piece to screen passengers flying from Canada to the United States.
Halifax Stanfield International is one of 8 Canadian airports to get the body scanners. The airport expects them to be in place here by spring but its waiting for final confirmation from Transport Canada.
Most of those in line for a flight stateside at Halifax International Wednesday had no issue with the body scanners.
“Don’t mind it at all, I think it’s good,” says one passenger.
“I think it will stop a lot of drugs, dangerous goods everything.”
“If it’s going to make everything safer then I guess it’s for the best,” says another.
“As long as I get to my destination i’m fine with it.”
Passengers flying to the U.S. will have to submit to either the body scan or a pat down by a security official.
