Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement concerns the airport at Resolute Bay. I understand that the Government of Canada, which controls flight service stations in Resolute Bay and other locations in the NWT, has plans to sell these operations to a new non-profit corporation controlled by a major Canadian Airlines, air traffic controllers and business-jet owners. This is all planned for June 1996. This sale will be done through Bill C-20, now before the House of Commons.

Mr. Speaker, the Resolute Bay flight service station has a staff of six, including a manager. This facility provides vital services to aircraft in the High Arctic, especially at the airport in Resolute Bay, which is an important route and alternate for northern and circumpolar flights. I am concerned about the future of the Resolute Bay flight service station and others in the NWT as this privatization plan moves forward.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that Bill C-20 gives the Minister of Transport Canada an effective veto over the elimination of air traffic control services in remote and northern communities and that the government has said it intends to put in place a special process to review any planned service cuts in those regions.

Mr. Speaker, I will be urging our Minister of Transportation, the Honourable Jim Antoine, to inform the federal Minister of how important these flight service stations are for northern and circumpolar flights and urge him to continue these

services in the North. If cutbacks must be considered, Mr. Speaker, I would hope that our Minister can persuade the federal Minister to ensure that at least community air radio stations are established for at least the same hours of service provided previously by the flight service stations. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.