Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I am seconding this motion because the Government of Canada plans to transfer airports, which are now operated by Transport Canada, to territorial, regional, and municipal airport authorities and it is presently being negotiated by the Department of Transportation, Government of the Northwest Territories. Further, the Government of Canada plans to reduce the delivery of the air navigation system by privatization and modernization, which will eventually eliminate positions in some of our communities, especially flight specialist personnel.
The plan of Transport Canada will eliminate these positions from the communities and the employment will no longer be there. Presently, Transport Canada gives employment and income to people who work there and the communities in which they live. My biggest concern, however, is the safety of the air carrier service in the Northwest Territories. The elimination of personnel and replacing them with automation raises major concerns. Presently, the air traffic controllers are very good in the communities in which they operate. They provide quality service now.
The Government of Canada, and especially the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Doug Young, must take into consideration the unique circumstances in which we live in the north. We are different from southern communities and many communities' only mode of transportation is the airways in the north. The climate, as well, is totally different. The conditions during different times of the year are very extreme in the north. Take my constituency, for example. In the spring and fall, the weather conditions make it very difficult to fly and that is the case in many communities in the north, as well.
To eliminate human-controlled air traffic services in the north will be very detrimental, I feel. Based on that, I am seconding this motion. Mahsi cho.