Privacy commissioners and ombudsmen from across the country say they want the federal government to suspend its no-fly list until stronger privacy protection measures are put in place.

At a meeting in Fredericton on Thursday, the officials issued a joint resolution that says the list of people considered to be potential threats to security violates privacy rights of Canadians.

They find it "alarming" that Transport Canada, which administers the Passenger Protect program, could be sharing names on the list with other countries and has not provided assurances that that's not happening.

"We're concerned that we're going down a very slippery path, and that in the concern, the legitimate concern, to provide public security to travelling Canadians, that we're not putting in place the appropriate balance and safeguards for privacy and other fundamental rights," New Brunswick ombudsman Bernard Richard said.

The group of privacy watchdogs was unanimous in saying reforms to the program are urgently required to make sure Canadians are not incorrectly listed.

The no-fly list involves "the secretive use of personal information in a way that will profoundly impact privacy and other related human rights such as freedom of association and expression and the right to mobility," they said in the statement.

Short of suspending the program, the officials said, Parliament should at least ensure the list functions under strict ministerial scrutiny with regular public reports to Parliament until a comprehensive public parliamentary review is completed and reforms are made.
 
Transport Canada's Specified Persons list is provided to all airlines moving people into, out of or around Canada, and includes the name, birth date and gender of anyone the federal government deems a threat to aviation security.

Fewer than 1,000 names are believed to be on the list, unlike its U.S. counterpart, which has grown to contain more than 44,000. The list will not be available to the public, which means those on it will only find out when they try to board an airplane.

Those who believe their names have been mistakenly placed on the list can apply to have their cases reviewed by submitting a validated package containing a written application outlining the reasons for the appeal, along with two documents that support their identity, to Transport Canada's Office of Reconsideration. 

A judicial review is the only avenue of appeal if a person is unsuccessful in having the government remove a name from the list.

With files from the Canadian Press