Canada is about to get its very own homegrown no-fly list. The initiative is called Passenger Protect, and it got its start under Paul Martin’s Liberal government back in 2005. The Liberals lost power before it could be implemented, but Stephen Harper’s Conservatives thought it was a good idea, so they’re going ahead with it. It’s set to take effect for domestic flights in March, and for international flights in June.

How it will work

The no-fly list will be compiled by a Transport Canada advisory group based on recommendations from CSIS and the RCMP. They’ll be adding the names of anyone who is or has been involved with terrorist groups and might pose a threat to aviation security; anyone who has previously been convicted of “serious and life-threatening crimes against aviation security”; and any convicted violent offenders who might harm the crew or other passengers.

In addition to using their own records, CSIS and the RCMP will be relying on information from foreign intelligence sources, including the US no-fly list. The Canadian list will include each person’s name, gender, and date of birth, and in some cases their address, phone number, and passport number as well. All airlines flying through Canada will have access to the list, but they’ll be required to keep it confidential. However, Canada will almost certainly share its list with the US and other Canadian allies — so if you’re on the Canadian no-fly list, you can expect to end up on the US list, too.

When you go to get your boarding pass, your airline will check to see if your name is on the list. If it is, you won’t be able to print your boarding pass online or at a kiosk — you’ll have to proceed to the check-in desk, where airline staff will ask for your ID and check your gender and date of birth. If you’re still a match at this point, they’ll get in touch with a Transport Canada officer to verify your identity and status, and permit or refuse boarding accordingly. If you want to appeal their decision, you can talk to the Office of Reconsideration, an independent review board.

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Coming soon: Why we should be concerned about Passenger Protect.