Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Members of the Assembly, late yesterday afternoon I learned through a general press release from NAV Canada that the federal Minister of Transport, the Honourable David Collenette, gave his approval to NAV Canada's fee proposal last Friday. I want to inform the House that I am greatly disappointed with the consistent refusal of NAV Canada and the federal government to recognize the impact the new fee structure will have on northern Canada.
NAV Canada's announcement makes much of the fact that, as a special concession to the north, it will phase in the new fees over a two year period. This is merely a delay. The pain will come in small cuts over time rather than all at once. Delays or deferrals were not what we had asked NAV Canada or the Minister of Transport to consider. NAV Canada also makes much of the fact that the former Air Transportation Tax is to be removed as the new fees are introduced to replace it. Unlike the Air Transportation Tax that was added to the fares of paying passengers, the new service fees are charged on aircraft movements - regardless of whether the aircraft is empty or loaded. Since the fees are based on aircraft movements, the air carriers must recover the fees from their passengers and freight. The new fees have and will impose added cost to the movement of freight. This is a new cost to northerners and the substance of our criticism. The announced deferrals do not change the fact that, in the end, fresh groceries and other essential air cargoes delivered to our northern and remote communities will cost more.
Next week I will be meeting in Regina with the federal Ministers and my provincial and territorial counterparts. I intend to take up the issue of the NAV Canada fees at the meeting and I have already had the item included on the agenda. The deferrals do give us time. With the support of this Assembly, the people who live in our communities and the northern air industry, I intend to pursue every avenue at our disposal to mitigate this added increase to our high cost of living in the north. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause