Again, Mr. Speaker, I believe we did that in the previous Government. It, to put it bluntly, was an abysmal failure. I think that what we are saying is, we believe that the marketplace, to some extent, does provide some competitiveness. We have instructed our management team, if you want, that they should be aggressive in trying to seek excursion airfares when they are doing trips both North and South. I believe it is working reasonably well at this time, and it is true that we are trying to find a way to ensure the travel agencies can survive. But we have also got to ensure that airlines survive as well. So it is a fine balancing act that we are trying to walk right now. It has been further compounded now, and the only reason I brought the travel agencies up, has been further compounded with this capping of the commissions by the airlines on the travel agencies. I do not know how many people they employ in this town, but it must be significant, and in other communities. The issue of travel and travel costs has been further compounded with the capping, if you want, of the commissions, so we are walking a fine line right now to try to see how we can accommodate the airline business, to ensure that we save fiscally, a fiscal responsibility to the public, and at the same time, try to find a way for these travel agencies, etc. who are in the travel business to survive. Thank you.
John Todd on Question 511-13(3): Negotiations Of Bulk Rates With Commercial Carriers
In the Legislative Assembly on October 16th, 1996. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question 511-13(3): Negotiation Of Bulk Rates With Commercial Carriers
Question 511-13(3): Negotiations Of Bulk Rates With Commercial Carriers
Item 6: Oral Questions
October 15th, 1996
Page 1192
John Todd Keewatin Central
See context to find out what was said next.