Thank you, Madam Speaker.
WHEREAS the Government of Canada, through the national airports policy released by Transport Canada, plans to withdraw their participation in Canadian aviation by disposing of federally owned airports, including the nine Arctic A airports in the NWT, through transfer to territorial, regional, and municipal airport authorities;
AND WHEREAS, the national airports policy proposes a similar reduction in the federal delivery of air navigation systems by privatizing air navigation services and by implementing modernization plans which will eliminate all flight specialist personnel;
AND WHEREAS, the elimination of on-ground human personnel for flight support services may compromise the safety of aircraft operators and passengers to NWT destinations;
AND WHEREAS, all flight support services currently operated by Transport Canada provides valuable employment and income opportunities to communities and a valuable service to air carriers operating in the NWT;
AND WHEREAS, the NWT is unique in comparison to southern jurisdictions which have access to a fully developed road infrastructure system, in the fact that, for a large majority of communities, with the exception of an annual sealift, air transportation is the critical and, in some cases, the only means of transportation to the community for the entire year.
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that this Legislative Assembly urges the federal Minister of Transport, the Honourable Doug Young, to revisit and reconsider the reduction of air support services to the NWT by establishing an exception for not phasing out flight service specialist positions in the NWT or by establishing the Community Aerodrome Radio Station (CARS) in communities designated for closure of flight services stations. Thank you, Madam Speaker.