Transport Canada to examine all cargo on planes in North

New regulations meant to reduce risks to safety and security

Cargo shipped through the biggest airports in Canada’s North will soon get a closer inspection.

Starting Dec. 31, Transport Canada staff will screen all cargo going through airports in Whitehorse, the capital of Canada’s northwestern Yukon territory; Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, Iqaluit, the capital city of the eastern Arctic territory of Nunavut, and Kuujjuaq, a community in northern Quebec.

Transport Canada said the change is meant to reduce risks to safety.

Norman Yakeleya, a politician in the Northwest Territories, said he welcomes the change. He said he hopes it will help curb the air transport of excessive amounts of alcohol from hubs such as Yellowknife.

“It means now they have to be more conscientious of stuff being sent into our communities. That there’s going to be checks on their freight. We get a lot of alcohol and liquor sent into our communities from either Yellowknife or Inuvik. It’s a possibility that it will be stopped,” he said.

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