Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back in 1996-97 Main Estimates the government said publicly about the Yellowknife Airport, “The department will explore, for the privatization of regulations, pursue privatization opportunities.” According to my research, it never happened. In 2002 the government is quoted in the Yellowknife Airport governance review, “We also suggested option seven, private sector third party, is not a practical option or alternative.” Again very little rationale was offered. In 2003 in a Yellowknife Airport Stakeholders Panel report to the Minister the quote was: “goal: to explore the viability at a macro level of alternative governance models for Yellowknife Airport.” Its recommendation was a task force to be formed, and even though the devolution of airports in Canada from government to independent authorities resulted in many success stories across Canada, nothing ever transpired for the NWT legal largest airport.
My question today is for the Minister of Transportation. In my preface for today’s oral questions I referenced only a handful of reports, reviews and consultant papers.
Mr. Speaker, if one was to go back 20 years on the governance and the operational review of the Yellowknife Airport, can the Minister inform the House how many of these reports, reviews and
consultant papers has his department undertaken? Thank you.