B.C. families with kids on no fly list call for changes from federal government

Two families in British Columbiaare adding their voices to the growing call for a better system to address children's names on Canada's no fly list.

"The first time I experienced difficulty with myson's name is when he was two weeks old," said Burnaby residentMaryam Egal. "All the time we travel it gets worse."

Egalnever imagined thatnamingher now 14-year-oldson after her brother wouldlabelhim as a security threat when checking in to get on a plane.

But she says every flight she takeswith him prompts concerned and confusedlooks from airport and flight personnel, followed by a slew of additional security measures.

Egal says she was told her son's name matches one on Canada's no fly list. Every time he travels, the airline has to call its security line and get his name cleared for boarding.

It's a process that can take anywhere from five minutes to five hours.

"I'm worried about when he gets older," she said. "When my son gets 18 years old, he's going to travel on his own."

"Also, I don't want any Canadian child to go through this. It's a terrible thing to do."

• U.S. no-fly list could be why some Canadian kids deemed high risk travellers
• No-fly list flags more Canadian toddlers as security risks

Airline suggests name change

It's an issue Kamloops motherFaaria Siddiquiand her husband have become familiar with in the past year, since their son was born.

"It was really annoying," she said. "Ican understand thereare security issuesbut the fact is he's an infant and barely a year old."

Siddiquihas travelled with her son a handful of times, and she says each time they have been faced with the same scrutiny.

When asking what she can do to bypass the delays, she says Air Canada crews recommended she change his name.

"Iwasn't happy with that. How do we know if we change his name it won't be on the list or the name we choose won't be on list?"

'They need to get their act together'

A group advocating for children on the no fly listsays more than 40 families have come forward so far, and many others are too afraid to speak out least their children be stigmatised any further.

The No Fly List Kids groupis calling forall children to be taken off the no fly list.

It's also pushing for a redress system similar to the one in the United States, whichwould allow people whose name matches one on the security list to be given a number so they would be cleared when checking in.

"There are too many organizations involvedtoo many agencies, too many lists," said international security expertAndre Gerolymatos.

"There isn't one grand list and this is what has caused a lot of confusion and delays. They need to get their act together. Canadiansecurityneeds to be protected at all costs. However, not at the cost of children."

No additional screening needed

The federal government says it has told airlines they don't need to order additional screening for children under 18 who appear to be on such lists.

In January, the Public Safety Ministrysaid it clarified those rules with airlines, and it was"exploring possible regulatory amendments" that would "help differentiate individuals who have similar or the same names as individuals listed under the Passenger Protect Program."

In March, Canada and the U.S. agreed to set up a joint Redress WorkingGroup to help resolve errors of identity on no-flylists.

In addition, the two countries said they would routinelyshare their respective no-fly rosters as part of a joint effort toidentify threats, something the ministry called "the firstagreement of its kind" on such lists.

Thetask force looking into the issue isexpected to release its findings and recommendations laterthis week.