Transport Committee on May 4th, 2017

[Robert Deluce]

The proposal that we put forward in 2013 was in our view a good proposal. It's one that we had confidence in. We were responding to our customers. On the other hand, we also respect the decision taken not to allow jets to operate from that airport. We've redirected a lot of our attention to the short-haul regional flights. We've bought additional Q400s, and that's our primary focus of growth here, at least for the short term.

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

I know my colleague mentioned it really briefly, but I'd like to get your opinion about the rumours of airports potentially being privatized. A lot of safety concerns have come up today about the funding cuts at Transport Canada—the inability to meet inspection needs, I guess we'll say.

What is your idea on the potential of privatizing airports?

[Robert Deluce]

The airport that we operate about 50% of our flights from is in some respects partially privatized. At least the terminal is privately owned. That seems to work. It's a delicate question and one that other airlines that have larger stakes and interests at some of the main airports are probably in a better position to give a view on. I think it's not something that we're preoccupied with one way or another. We're happy with the way the majority of the airports are operated.

I think there's always room for improvement as it relates to cost containment. But some of the airports now are doing a better job at focusing on that than a few years back. That's certainly something we would encourage them to continue doing.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Luc Berthold]

Thank you, Mr. Barlow.

Thank you, Mr. Deluce, Mr. Donald, and Mr. Beauregard, for appearing before the committee today.

Mr. Deluce, I noted that you said you would provide the committee with some additional information in response to committee members' questions. If you have further comments on those questions, kindly send them to us. Thank you.

You are now free to go, and the committee will now deal with Mr. Aubin's motion. There was unanimous consent to give Mr. Aubin time to move his motion.

Over to you, Mr. Aubin.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to again thank each of my colleagues for doing me this favour.

I think we need to talk about the elephant in the room. I realize that, as we speak, the government has not made a decision on the privatization of airports.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Luc Berthold]

Mr. Aubin, I would ask that you move the motion before discussing it.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Yes, of course. I thought I had done it.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Luc Berthold]

No, you hadn't.

Thank you.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

With your help, Mr. Chair, I'm going to become an expert on procedure.

I move the motion for the record.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Luc Berthold]

We still don't know what you are referring to.

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

You're absolutely right.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Luc Berthold]

Thank you everyone.

Mr. Aubin, you can read the motion first, and then you can carry on with your explanation.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Luc Berthold]

Great.

I will read the motion you have in front of you.

That the Committee request the Minister of Transport to table all of the federal government's studies on the privatization of airports, including the study commissioned at Credit Suisse and the study by Moody's entitled “Credit challenges emerge as Canada explores changes to airport Governance”.

Mr. Chair, as I was saying, I am well aware that the government has not made any decisions on airport privatization. To my mind, though, those studies would certainly seem to be germane to the safety measures the committee is currently studying. The committee's report would be far more comprehensive if we could consider both options, in other words, the situation now and the situation the government is considering but has not yet made up its mind about. If nothing in the studies pertains to the issue before us, our findings will show what they should. It seems to me, however, that it would behoove us if we could take a look at those studies.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Luc Berthold]

Thank you.

Mr. Rayes, you may go ahead.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I find the idea very appealing. We even have the parliamentary secretary here. In fact, I think the government should offer up her help to assist the committee. I have no doubt that, if the government is considering privatizing airports, it took safety-related considerations into account in its decision-making.

I think the motion is entirely appropriate. I have trouble seeing how the committee could possibly vote against such a request.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Luc Berthold]

Thank you, Mr. Rayes.

Seeing as no one else has anything to say, I will now put Mr. Aubin's motion to a vote.

The motion reads as follows:

That the Committee request the Minister of Transport to table all of the federal government's studies on the privatization of airports, including the study commissioned at Credit Suisse and the study by Moody's entitled “Credit challenges emerge as Canada explores changes to airport Governance”.

(Motion negatived)

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Luc Berthold]

Thank you very much everyone.

The committee is hereby adjourned.