Transport Committee on Nov. 2nd, 2009

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I believe you directed the witness to give an expanded answer and Mr. Volpe cut in again.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I did, and I'm going to ask him to expand and answer the question.

Then I'll get back to Mr. Volpe.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

You're taking up valuable time, Mr. Petsikas.

[George Petsikas]

Sir, I'd like to answer your questions, if you'd give me the chance.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

I'm interested in getting to the financial model--

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Volpe, please.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

--taking into account the liabilities, which you are not absorbing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Order.

Mr. Watson on a point of order.

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

For the love of God--

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

This is a secular environment, Mr. Watson.

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

--you've already directed the witnesses to speak. Mr. Volpe is cutting in once again.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I'm going to ask for no interruptions so that Mr. Petsikas can answer the question.

[George Petsikas]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

We have said very clearly the problem here is that we are the ones being penalized. But the problem is that this bill does not take into account the aviation supply chain that, for example, Monsieur Laframboise just a few minutes ago alluded to in his case about Cubana, when he said it's not necessarily about the airline, there may be other factors involved. He mentioned the airport authorities, but it goes beyond just the airport authorities. It goes to Nav Canada.

Look what I just talked about, about Air Canada flight 32. What happened to Air Canada flight 32 and why couldn't it land on time, sir?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

I won't lecture you if you won't lecture me, so just answer my question.

[George Petsikas]

Well, again, I couldn't finish the answer, sir.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Are you in a position where you abide by the European legislation that purports to do the same thing? Are your members and your council willing to fly into Europe under these kinds of regulations, under this type of judicial system?

[George Petsikas]

Are we willing to fly to Europe?

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Yes, do you or don't you?

[George Petsikas]

Well, we fly to Europe. Air Canada and Air Transat fly to Europe.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

So it's not a problem for you in Europe.

[George Petsikas]

Well, no, I would point out that the European legislation is not a carbon copy of what we've done here, either.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Do you want to tell us what the differences are?

[George Petsikas]

Mr. Maloway had to pick and choose a few things, and I would suggest that the ramp delay issue and that liability, which is a major one in this bill, is not existent in the European regulations. So right there we don't have to deal with that.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

So you're going to give us your amendments to this bill--

[George Petsikas]

What we're going to say, sir, is that this bill is fundamentally flawed because it failed to take into account--