Transport Committee on April 30th, 2019

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

I want to say that we are competing in an international environment where our airline companies and our airports are dealing with other countries. We need to be more competitive. I have no proof that we are doing it the right way with this bill.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Mr. Iacono, you have two minutes.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

What was your relationship and experience when Nav Canada transferred over?

[Daniel-Robert Gooch]

Most of us were here at the time. I'll just make a couple of comments and open it to my colleagues.

Our understanding is that it's generally well received, and that the transfer was generally perceived to be successful. Certainly, we've seen some changes in Nav Canada over the years. They were set up with airlines as the primary stakeholders. Air traffic control does have an impact on the community. For example, in recent years we've seen the need to work more closely with Nav Canada and all the stakeholders in the community when flight paths have been changed.

My colleagues at Toronto Pearson can probably speak more to that, because they've worked very closely with Nav Canada in recent years.

[Lorrie McKee]

Yes, there's no question that we have a very strong collaborative working relationship with Nav Canada at Toronto Pearson. We work on operational decisions with them every day. There is long-term planning. As Mr. Gooch has mentioned, when it comes to community impacts, we're joined at the hip and work very closely with Nav Canada, so that the relationship is strong and healthy. It has been a positive experience.

[Angelo Iacono, Liberal, Alfred-Pellan, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you to our committee members, and thank you to all of our witnesses. This has been a very informative two hours. I apologize for the interruption.

The meeting is adjourned.