Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise
today in the House to talk about an issue that is very important to my constituents, the high cost of air travel in the north.
Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, this government's financial problems have resulted in the end of compassionate travel benefits for the people of the north. When a loved one is sick or dying, it is now virtually impossible for relatives from other communities to be able to afford to visit their loved ones in their time of need.
Mr. Speaker, we pay the highest airfares in the world and, unfortunately, in Nunavut there are limited other options for travelling between communities. In the east First Air operates as a monopoly. The people I represent have no choice but to pay whatever airfare rate First Air decides the market will bear.
If you compare Yellowknife and Iqaluit as points of departure south, it is obvious to me that travellers going from Yellowknife to Edmonton have a distinct advantage over travellers going from Iqaluit to Montreal or Ottawa. What is this advantage, Mr. Speaker? The advantage is seat sales. Since the departure of Canadian Airlines from the Iqaluit-Montreal run, seat sales have been non-existent in the east.
I applaud the purchase of Canadian North by Nunasi Corporation. Some people might be concerned that two Inuit birthright corporations competing for the same travelling dollar in the same market are counter to Inuit tradition. Mr. Speaker, I have no problems with this, both organizations are financially strong and have the necessary leadership to deal with the consequences of air travel competition in the north.
Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that competition will lead to lower airfares for my constituents. I strongly encourage the new owners of Canadian North to re-enter the Iqaluit-Montreal market. Fair and honest competition makes for better companies and better services to the customer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause