OTTAWA — The federal government's move to allow passengers to carry items such as skates, needles and "restraining devices" onto their flights will create serious threats to security, the union representing thousands of Canadian flight attendants says.

Earlier this month, Transport Canada made changes to its prohibited items list so that Canadians could bring small manicure scissors, small eyeglass screwdrivers and other tools with them on their flights, but the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 9,000 flight attendants, is criticizing the move.

"(Flight attendants) work in this environment and they're concerned. They don't see the logic behind these decisions," said CUPE researcher Richard Balnis. On Tuesday, he will be speaking at a Commons committee examining aviation security where MPs will also hear from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA).

The items removed from the government's prohibited list are: scissors and tools that are no longer than six centimetres in length, excluding the handle; toy guns that don't look authentic; skates; tools required by passengers with special needs; hypodermic needles; game darts; and "restraining devices," a CATSA spokesman confirmed.

Balnis said he spoke with a Transport Canada official last week who confirmed that "any" restraining devices are now permitted — from plastic and metal handcuffs, which were banned before, to duct tape and skipping rope.

With these changes, the safety of flight attendants and passengers will be compromised, Balnis warned.

"The government thinks you only puncture with scissors but the reality is that you slash with scissors. You can break a scissor blade in two," he said, noting that the blades used in Sept. 11 attacks were under nine centimetres long.

He said employees don't know why passengers should now be allowed to carry handcuffs and needles onto their flights.

"For the passengers we look after every day and the 9,000 flight attendants we represent, this is a significant change that will negatively and directly affect our everyday safety and security. We urge you in the strongest possible terms to not agree to this staff initiative," the union members wrote in an appeal to Transport Minister Chuck Strahl on Jan. 28. Balnis said the government has not provided a response.

He said he believes the government "downplayed" the concern by referring to less threatening objects, such as small manicure scissors, instead of revealing all the changes they made and by announcing several other changes that will decrease wait times.

John Babcock, Strahl's press secretary, said the government made its decision based on threat and risk assessments, consultation with international partners and industry, and comments from the travelling public. The changes were made, he added, to focus more on bigger threats, such as explosives.

"We have made these changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the screening processes at Canada's airports and to more closely align our list with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and our international partners, such as the United States. These items are already being allowed on international flights departing from Europe and the United States into Canada and we have worked closely to harmonize our regulations with our international partners," he said in a statement.

"The aviation security environment has significantly evolved including reinforced flight deck doors, aircraft protective officers, improved aircrew security training, introduction of the Passenger Protect Program, passengers being less passive, and the use of improved screening technology," he said.

cchai@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/Carmen_Chai