Transport committee  Thank you. The airports capital assistance program will fund capital things such as runway overlays, runway rehabilitations, lighting, equipment used to maintain the runways and other safety measures strictly related to passenger air service. On the $206 million, we're still waiting for information on just exactly what sectors that will involve.

Transport committee  I think from the perspective of our members in regional and community airports, air traffic control towers certainly have not been the catalyst as to whether or not we receive service. Those areas at this time are just simply trying to get by and to ensure that they can keep the peace to keep those airlines flying in.

Transport committee  I wouldn't say it's an issue of fairness. I think it's simply an issue of education and not being able to understand that there are other airports out there. Certainly we feed the large airports, and they need to have that support. Smaller airports seem to have been carved away and forgotten about, as though they are just regional cost centres, so we haven't really had any attention from the federal government.

Transport committee  I think the important part is that the airports capital assistance program has not been topped up since the early 2000s. The $95 million we have advocated—for over the past four years, as a matter of fact—simply addresses the infrastructure inflation rates in order to accommodate the rehabilitation of most of our infrastructure.

Transport committee  Actually, the airports capital assistance program funding is on a sliding scale, so the more passengers you move, the less the contribution the federal government gives you. Even for those that are 100% funded, with small passenger movements, the application process to get a project approved costs money.

Transport committee  Absolutely, and I can speak to personal experience in my home airport. We have lost 90% of our traffic movement and 75% of our revenues. We're at a 25% and 30% contribution rate from the federal government. I agree 100%. They can add all the money they like to the program, but if it's not 100% funded, we can't access it.

Transport committee  For some airports and some communities it certainly is a safety concern. For others it's not as much a safety concern as having the appropriate tools and technology when that service leaves. There is no avenue to fund that at this point, even through the ACAP program. Automated weather stations and automated lighting controls....

Transport committee  I think the easy answer is no. Certainly there has been some attempt by the federal government to fulfill its mandate in giving us some capital funding, but the large majority of airports, as you mentioned, in not been able to even participate because the funds simply aren't there to match the contribution agreements.

Transport committee  We certainly did advocate, and we identified that there basically has been no ability for small and regional airports to take advantage of many of the programs. We mentioned that we needed to address the issue with the queues, but we have still not had an answer to that. We do not even have an idea of whether and when that may be discussed.

Transport committee  Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to the committee regarding the effects of COVID-19 on the aviation sector, and in particular for us today, to address the staggering impact on community and regional airports across our country. My name is Brian Grant. I am chair of the Regional Community Airports of Canada, and I am joined by Mr.