Thank you, Mr. Chair.
At the last meeting, I put forward a motion and I'd have preferred to have had the chance to discuss it, but the debate was adjourned. I was told that today there would be different circumstances under which it could perhaps be moved.
I move the following: Whereas on December 13 of this year, the House of Commons adopted the following motion, No. M-96:That: a) the House recognize that an assessment by the International Association of Fire Fighters concluded significant regulatory shortfalls concerning emergency responses at Canada's major airports are needlessly putting the safety of the flying public at risk, by(i) failing to specify rescue as a required function of airport fire fighters,(ii) requiring only that fire fighters must reach the mid-point of the furthest runway in three minutes rather than all points on operational runways within that time period; andb) in the opinion of the House, the government should, without delay, ensure that the Canadian Aviation Regulations reflect airport rescue and firefighting standards published by the International Civil Aviation Organization, specifically by(i) giving fire fighters at Canada's major airports the mandate and resources necessary to reach the site of a fire or mishap anywhere on an operational runway in three minutes or less,(ii) specifying that a required function of fire fighters be the rescue of passengers.The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities calls on the Government of Canada, specifically the Minister of Transport, to inform the Committee on how his department intends to respond to the motion adopted by the House.
It should go without saying that we agree that the government should respond to a motion passed in the House of Commons. However, I would still like the committee to make the request and for us to vote on the motion quickly so that we can finish the business we have scheduled for today.