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Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Tony Whitford is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2003, as MLA for Kam Lake

Won his last election, in 1999, with 80% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Question 681-12(7): Update On Bird Dog Officer's Safety Concerns June 21st, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister of Safety and Public Services. It concerns the air attack officers who have booked off sick. I understand there is an investigation under way concerning this dispute. I hope it isn't a dispute, I hope it is simply a misunderstanding. I would like an update on this investigation by his department into these concerns.

Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors June 21st, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this concern is not only with the Department of Health and Social Services, but there are also concerns from seniors regarding departments such as Transportation and Municipal and Community Affairs where there are a numbers of different programs now being assessed fees. I would like to ask the Minister if she would assure this House that all the government initiatives that deal with seniors will be conveyed to seniors before they are surprised at the ticket booths and government offices they have to deal with. Could she assure that there will be some communication before they end up experiencing these initiatives first hand?

Question 679-12(7): Medical Travel Costs For Seniors June 21st, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question I would like to direct to the Minister of Health. Mr. Speaker, I have been approached by some seniors who are quite concerned about a number of initiatives being put forward by the government, at least they have the impression they are new initiatives. In this case, I would like to direct a question to the Minister of Health. I would like to ask whether or not seniors are being required to pay for part or all medical travel to southern facilities, where in the past they were not required to pay?

25th Anniversary Of Buffalo Airways June 21st, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. In 1970, a young bush pilot showed up in Fort Smith with an Aztec, the first instrumental flight-rated airplane for hire in that community. Over the years, Mr. McBryan became a sincere friend and supporter of the trappers around Fort Smith. Indeed, in many cases, he was their lifeline back to civilization after months in the bush. Whether or not the trappers had the money to pay for the service, McBryan hauled them out to their trap lines, gear and all, including their dogteams, and then picked them up at the end of the season without fail.

That same Aztec doubled as a Bird Dog aircraft during the fire season and maintained a base in Fort Smith for medevac service for the rest of the year. It did not go south, Mr. Speaker. During that 10-year period, Buffalo Joe, as he became known, was called on to fly so many medevacs that in one instance, he had a mother from Fort Resolution give birth to her 11th child in the back of the Aztec, and she named the boy after the pilot -- Joe.

The little company was eventually sold to a young bush pilot that he had trained, the late Billy Burke of Fort Smith, who bought the float plane operation and renamed it Loon Air. During those years in Fort Smith, Mr. McBryan entered into a partnership with a couple of southern boys who eventually migrated back home and sold their partnership shares to McBryan who became the sole owner and operator of Buffalo Airways, as we know it today. The company continued to grow from a couple of float planes to a DC-3 service, combined with a small fleet of helicopters. Buffalo today now owns the largest operating fleet of DC-3s in Canada, if not in all North

America. And this is a model of one of their airplanes, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

My colleague brought a cod head here one time, so I thought a model airplane wouldn't be so bad.

---Laughter

Long-time northerners will easily recall that Buffalo Airways has already provided 15 years of solid service to the forest firefighting industry at its base at Fort Smith and at Fort Simpson. Furthermore, Buffalo Airways has always been a leader in the support, hiring and training of young northerners wanting to enter the aviation industry. Pilots have come up through the training ranks and are held in such high regard in the industry.

Today young pilots, bubbling with more ambition than DC-3s and DC-4s can contain, have gone on to fly in the big leagues with the international airlines on jet planes. Mr. Speaker, I take great pride in being a Member of a government that is willing to demonstrate support for northern entrepreneurs. I am proud to be part of a government that is confident enough to take the necessary steps to ensure that millions of northern dollars will stay in the north. Indeed, a reputable northern company built, according to the dreams of a little northern boy, who used to play on the shores of Gordon Lake with wooden airplanes, who now owns real ones.

I rise today to point out the positive aspects of a genuine northern company that is caught up in the cross fire of a political battle that is taking place in this House and is detracting from the true meaning of northern entrepreneurship. I ask this House to joint me in extending congratulations to Buffalo Airways, a genuine northern company celebrating 25 years of quality aviation services. Thank you.

---Applause

25th Anniversary Of Buffalo Airways June 21st, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, good morning; and good morning, colleagues. Colleagues, I rise today to extend congratulations to a truly northern aviation company celebrating 25 years of service to northerners and to maybe set the record straight about a company that people across the north have come to rely on for hauling everything from foodstuffs, personal mail, mining companies, trappers, fishermen and little league baseball players, who either fly free or at a minimum cost. That company is Buffalo Airways.

---Applause

Congratulations to a company that draws positive international recognition for it's operating standards, standards proven to be so exceptional that leading insurance companies offer prime rates, providing an opportunity for this government to save millions of dollars over the next five years.

---Applause

Congratulations for a level of expertise demonstrated by a professional staff hand-picked by the company's president Mr. McBryan. Congratulations for building a reputation that's unbeatable for the quality of service and the degree of respect offered each and every customer. Congratulations to a company that northerners recognize for the Buffalo green that stands out so well against our snow-covered runways.

Here's a genuine northern company with a history that started at a small mining camp north of Yellowknife in 1946, a history that began in the imagination of a five-year-old boy playing on the shores of Gordon Lake, where he lived with his parents. At a time, Mr. Speaker, when toys were in short supply, young McBryan's toys were a couple of wooden airplanes that his father meticulously carved from the trunk of a jack pine tree, a territorial tree.

This, Mr. Speaker -- what I'm holding in my hand -- is the flagship of the Buffalo fleet as it's known today. This is a little airplane, the first airplane of the fleet, which would eventually become the larger Buffalo airplanes of today. In 1970, a young bush pilot showed up in Fort Smith with an Aztec, the first instrumental flight-rated airplane for hire in that community.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue.

Question 671-12(7): Maca Tracking System For Concerns Raised By Public June 20th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find it hard not to ask another question because I think, during the short time I was in Cabinet, if a question was asked in the House that the Minister didn't know, then the officials would make sure that he knew. I asked this yesterday, and I would like to ask to know when the particular issue in question will be answered?

Question 671-12(7): Maca Tracking System For Concerns Raised By Public June 20th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister it he can explain how questions from the public can go unanswered for up to three months or more if there is a tracking system to ensure a response to these enquiries?

Question 671-12(7): Maca Tracking System For Concerns Raised By Public June 20th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question I would like to direct to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Yesterday, the Minister of MACA indicated that the department receives numerous enquiries from a variety of sources and responding to all of these enquiries and concerns is likely an onerous undertaking. I would like to ask the Minister if MACA has some sort of tracking system for concerns and unanswered questions from Members and from members of the public.

Question 667-12(7): Status Of Mine Safety Regulations June 20th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is confusing to the public knowing that regulations have already been drafted and it is a matter of translating. I would like to know why there is no money, if indeed it is a money problem. Perhaps rather than asking about the money, when can we expect these to be done? Surely, the Minister could find some money to do this.

Question 667-12(7): Status Of Mine Safety Regulations June 20th, 1995

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a question I would like to direct to the Minister of Safety and Public Services. In the last little while, we passed the new Mine Safety Act. Following along with that, there were to be new and revised regulations that would accompany this bill. The public is wondering where these important regulations are. What is the status of the new mine safety regulations?