Thank you, Mr. Speaker; I'll take the lead. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to address the statement made yesterday in this House by the Minister of Transportation about airport infrastructure funding.
I was pleased to hear the Minister reference the great contributions made to the NWT's transportation system by the federal government. Certainly, maintaining up-to-date transportation infrastructure across Northern Canada is in the national interest, as well as the interest of NWT residents and communities.
I'm also glad to know how many improvements have been and continue to be made to northern airports under Transport Canada's Airport Capital Assistance Program. It's also good to know that our infrastructure of air terminals right across the NWT has been supported by other federal support programs like the Building Canada Plan and Canada's Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.
Having heard that good news, I was a bit perplexed when the Minister then started to outline the ways in which Yellowknife's airport, the biggest and busiest airport in the NWT, is unable to raise money, and I quote:
In other parts of Canada, airports of this size are usually able to pay for themselves without requiring substantial subsidies from the government. Those airports do this by charging tenants and users a fair price for services they receive from the airport. This is not currently the case in Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, I think most people are aware of significant fees that are charged by DOT to various businesses and vendors at the Yellowknife Airport in the form of rent and leases; and, of course, there are already existing aeronautical fees applied to airlines. Everyone in this House is aware that this government subsidizes the operation of the Yellowknife Airport. Because of our location and remoteness and Yellowknife's position as the air transportation hub of the NWT, this airport plays a central role in the economic life of all communities in the NWT. Investing public money in crucial public air transportation systems is not uncommon; it is expected.
So, Mr. Speaker, I was confused as to where the Minister was going with that part of his statement; it didn't appear to be accurate. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Unanimous consent granted