SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Not everyone is sharing a Calgary university professor's concerns about the lack of security screening between Northern flights that could potentially foster criminal activity and terrorism in Canada.

Chris Ferris, vice-president of marketing and sales for First Air, said security issues are best left in the hands of Transport Canada, the government agency that oversees airport security regulations. But from his point of view, the concern is similar to "jumping at shadows."

"It's not something we're concerned with on a daily basis," said Chris Ferris, vice-president of marketing and sales for First Air. "When planes are destined for international airports and security screening is available - it makes sense. Does somebody need to be screened between Iqaluit and Pond Inlet? I don't think it represents the same risk," he said.

Rob Huebert, a professor of political science at the University of Calgary who specializes in Arctic security and sovereignty issues, said a likely scenario is one where someone enters the North by the sea and is picked up and driven to an airport. The person then boards a plane without having to go through any security check or screening, then flies to a place like Yellowknife. Here, the person would have to go through screening to board a plane, but rather than doing so, leaves the airport and drives south.

"It takes a certain degree of co-ordination - you have to have someone waiting for you. But as we saw with 9-11, planning and co-ordination is not a problem for these people. "It's never a big deal until it's a big deal," he said.

Huebert admitted there is a "very low probability" of a terrorist attack from the North, but that doesn't mean the risk isn't real. He describes the issue as one with "high impact, low probability."

"People will say 'what's the problem up North' - well, it's never a problem until it's a problem," he said.

"It's a cliche, but this is the type of mindset we're dealing with. The problem is no one ever thought it would be a threat for having to monitor for fertilizer, until, of course, Timothy McVeigh gets a van full and kills 186 people, including 50 children."

Huebert said individuals posing as security risks could enter Canada in other coastal places like British Columbia or Nova Scotia, but the difference being in those places you cannot board a plane without undergoing security screening.

"It's the issue that you can get somebody onto these airplanes with a gun or contraband or whatever you want and basically fly between Northern airports," he said. But most importantly it's an issue of public safety.

"Why do Northerners deserve less security than southerners?" he asked.

In terms of costs, Ferris said any costs arising from new airport security features would be passed on to the customer. Another concern is with the potential for long "bottleneck" lineups that could be created if security screening measures are implemented at smaller airports.

Tracy Medve, president of Canadian North, agreed she has confidence in Transport Canada's assessment of security risks at Northern airports, and adding security screening at smaller airports would be "difficult to do."

Still, Huebert said he's troubled by what he sometimes sees while flying in the North.

"You're flying in the North, and you see a guy bring his rifle on board and put it in the overhead compartment, and it's like 'Holy, you're not in Kansas anymore.'"

Transport Canada did not comment before press time.

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