Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about NAV Canada and the new fee schedule they have released. Mr. Speaker, on August 7, 1998 I had sent a letter to federal Minister David Collenette indicating that it was unacceptable that NAV Canada proposes to reduce southern costs by up to $110 million a year while the cost in the NWT will increase by up to $10 million a year. I had indicated to him that he could evoke section 35(2) the Civil Air and Navigation Services Commercial Act. This act states that the charging methodology may recognize that the value of the services differs among users. I also indicated that the value of the services they provide to us is much less than in the south. The area of lower radar coverage and lack of provision of radio navigation services for approach and landing and also using maximum certified takeoff weight as the bases of charges when in the north planes cannot land with maximum certified takeoff weight.

On September 8th, I also wrote him another letter indicating that NAV Canada is raising millions of dollars on our route charges, flights that are flying over the Northwest Territories, from western United States to Europe as well as from Alaska to the eastern United States, and that they stood to gain about $140 million from our route fees and from the four new polar routes that will be open over the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, these charges, the money they are raising from the over flights have not been reflected in our fees. I believe that the Minister should evoke section 35(2) of the Civil Air and Navigation Commercial Services Act to lower our rates. I guess you could say that NAV Canada should have taken this upon themselves to see that if they are going to make over $140 million off of us, this should be reflected in their rates. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause