Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Ningark on March 1, with respect to airline services in the Natilikmiot region. On Tuesday, March 1, 1994, the Member for Natilikmiot asked me if I knew if any air carriers, in addition to First Air, had plans to introduce scheduled air services to the communities of Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak and/or Pelly Bay.
Officials at the Department of Transportation have made inquiries of the regulatory authority, the National Transportation Agency in Ottawa, about competing licences to offer scheduled air services to the Natilikmiot communities. Buffalo Airways, Calm Air, Keewatin Air, NWT Air and Ptarmigan Airways all hold valid federal licences to offer scheduled air services to Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak and Pelly Bay.
The companies have chosen not to provide a service to compete with First Air. I have no knowledge of any future plans for these air carriers to offer scheduled services into these communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.