Thank you, Madam Speaker. The federal government, through their national airports policy, has outlined their plans to downgrade their participation in aviation through the privatization and transfer of their current airports. Currently, the GNWT is undergoing negotiations for assuming responsibilities for Arctic A airports. I support the transfer to the GNWT, provided the adequate resources are provided. However, the concern with this motion is that the air navigation services also identified were downgraded by installing automated systems which will phase out flight service stations and eliminate all the staff.
I believe we must oppose these proposed closures and automation for the following reasons. Most significantly, the elimination of manned human support services which provide reliable, up-to-date ground conditions to cockpits of airliners may compromise the safety of airline operators and passengers. Even though automated systems can perform some specific functions, there is no comparison to human operators who can react and relay up-to-the-minute information on changing operating conditions. There is also a concern about what happens when automated equipment breaks down. Is there a human back-up system or is there no air service that will be provided upon equipment breaking down?
Secondly, there is a large majority of our communities which are totally dependent on air transportation, as the NWT doesn't have a fully developed road infrastructure system. Any service cutbacks affecting NWT airports will impact on our residents more so than those in other jurisdictions which don't have the same dependency our communities do on their airport infrastructure. Finally, the flight service station personnel provide employment opportunities and generate income within our communities where they are established. The loss of these jobs will have significant impact on our communities.
Madam Speaker, although Cambridge Bay, Fort Smith, Fort Simpson and Hay River are targeted for 1995 closure, I believe it is only a matter of time before all other communities will be affected by future cutbacks and closures, and that includes communities with existing CARS programs. So, I would like all Members to support this motion and raise the issue to the federal Minister of Transport. Thank you.