Mr. Chair, I want to offer clarification with respect to some comments that were made by Ms. Wright with respect to smaller operators.
The fact of the matter is that operators have more flexibility on APPR and accessibility, even when we have regulations on flight and duty time. The regulations on flight time for pilots essentially give them a buffer to comply.
Regarding the flight time for pilots, they comply with any other airline because it's about safety, Mr. Chairman. That's what it all boils down to.
I guess it's somewhat subjective. At the same time, there has to be some clarity and some context in terms of the comments that were made.
I also want to add, Mr. Chairman, that to understand the feedback from northern and smaller operators, Transport Canada, as some may know, launched an initial consultation back in May of 2024. We are currently assessing that feedback. Once again, Mr. Chairman, safety will always be a top priority.
I wanted to make that clarification as well as give that information. By all means, any member of the panel that may want to give further comment, feel free.
I really want to draw down, Mr. Chairman, on the business. It's ironic, because I did have a meeting today with the Kelowna International Airport, and some of this is what we were talking about, with respect to the business of the smaller airports, strategic plans, priorities, action plans, and ultimately the opportunity for further revenue to be generated, apart from just the revenue generated from the airport operation itself. Some of that revenue is somewhat limited because of the regulations that TC puts on the smaller airports, which is what I want to drill down on.
As I've stated in the past, supply chains deal with goods but also with people. Supply chains depend on the capacity that is allowed and/or invested in the smaller airports. A lot of it is multimodal in fashion—railroad, air and water—but in this case, with air, we have to make more mechanisms available to them for more revenue generation.
First, what is impeding the airports with respect to regulations that could otherwise, if opened wider, encourage more business and therefore revenue generation on the lands and/or within the airports' business plan? Second, which regulations, specifically, might be preventing that?
I'm going to start off with Mr. Paradis because he started talking about some of those business opportunities that might be available in his area.