My name is Peter Wallis. I'm the president of the Van Horne Institute, which is a transportation institute based at the University of Calgary. The institute works very closely with industry, governments, and other stakeholders to develop programs at the post-secondary and the secondary school levels in transportation supply chain and logistics. We also do a large degree of public policy research in these fields, and it could include anything from high-speed, high-frequency rail, to aviation policy, to the movement of western Canadian bitumen by rail from Fort McMurray to Valdez via a combination of both rail and pipeline.
I'll give you a bit of information about me. I have studied aviation law for a number of years, have a degree from the University of London in aviation law. I've worked for the Canadian Transport Commission as a legal counsel in all modes of transport. I was seconded as chief of staff to two federal ministers of Transport. I worked for Pacific Western Airlines, which subsequently became Canadian Airlines, which in turn acquired CP Air and Wardair to form the major airline Canadian Airlines. My responsibilities included government relations, regulatory affairs, public affairs, and security. Government affairs included working with the Government of Canada on international aviation bilaterals. I've had the honour to serve on the board of the Calgary Airport Authority, five years as chair, and I'm now currently on the board of CATSA.
With respect to this legislation, I'm delighted to have the opportunity to be here with you. I was asked to appear. As Mike has, I should indicate that as members of the Van Horne Institute, we have Air Canada, WestJet, a number of other transportation carriers, airport authorities. The opportunity to give you some views on this legislation is a positive one. As I read this legislation, it is one step in releasing Air Canada from being bound to being able to participate unfettered in the world economy, as other carriers can.
When you look at the Emerson report, which I'm sure will be before this committee shortly, Emerson was very clear that our international airlines must have the freedom to create supply chains in and out of Canada that allow it to compete with the biggest and the best in the world, and to do so they have to be able to control their costs. Costs are one of the main components that any airline has that must be addressed. Indeed, costs are very much tied up in maintenance. Maintenance costs are around 10% to 15% of any airline's cost structure.
When I look at this legislation, I'm looking very carefully to see the degree of fettering—if that's the correct word—the degree of holding Air Canada back from being a truly competitive air carrier on the world stage, which I think we should all be searching for.
Thank you.