Canada agrees to airport scanners

TORONTO – Full-body scanners will be introduced in Canada in the wake of the failed Christmas Day bombing attempt of a U.S. airliner, Canada’s transport minister said Tuesday.

Transport Minister John Baird said 44 machines will be purchased. Twelve will be put in place later this month, and the rest will be operational in the spring.

Transport Canada spokesman Patrick Charette said the scanners will be used only on passengers boarding U.S.-bound flights. He said Washington requested that Canada deploy new scanning equipment.

Toronto, which has Canada’s busiest airport, and Vancouver, host of the Winter Olympics next month, will get the first scanners.

Passengers will be given a choice between a full-body scan and a physical search. Passengers under the age of 18 aren’t required to be scanned.