A real monopoly in Canada's main hub, the largest airport and our pride and joy in Canada. That move was just unconscionable.
We in the government kept expressing our displeasure at what we saw happening at the Pearson airport complex. We stated throughout the election, including when we were approaching October, that the Pearson privatization was not a rational, logical proposal for the public interests of Canada.
What was proposed for all other airports in the country was to put every one of them under what we called local airport authorities. That vested the local airport in each of our communities under a local control made up of non-profit oriented business people, men and women who would operate the airports in the best interests of their communities. That was not a bad idea and we supported that legislation.
We asked the government of the day why, if local airport authorities were all right for Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Mirabel, Dorval and other airports in the country, they would not be good for Pearson International Airport.
The reason was simply that we were having a difficult time getting along with all of the jurisdictions that surround Pearson airport at the municipal level. That did not wash.
The second reason was that Pearson was such a strong international airport that it could not be left to the control of a local authority, although that did not apply to Dorval, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary or Vancouver. The whole concept never ever made any sense.
Those who knew about it most were those who eventually evolved from Paxport into Pearson Development Corporation. In June, July, August and September 1993 the issue became hotter and hotter on the political stage. Time does not allow me, Mr. Speaker, to give you some insight into the lengthy meetings with the lobbyists.
Former ministers of the government were getting into the bargaining process with the Pearson Development Corporation and the Department of Transport. When the lobbyists found out that it was slipping away they entered into a contract knowing full well that if there was going to be a change in government, the Pearson deal was going to be cancelled. That was the first move this government made and I am thankful that it was.
That brings us to where we are today. My colleagues in the House and I suspect that within the next four to eight weeks the Pearson deal will be cut, finished once and for all, and we can get on to doing the things that are necessary at Pearson airport not only for the benefit of metro Toronto and southwestern Ontario but for the benefit of the travelling public in Canada as a whole.
When we get rid of this problem and through to the eventual climax, we must look at the contractual arrangement that was entered into. A contract was signed on October 7 or October 8, 20 days before the election. That in itself was unconscionable. We talked today in the House about awarding compensation. Our minister, who is much more generous than a lot of us on this side of the House, said the government is not going to pay for lost profits and lobbying fees but it will look at out of pocket expenses in so far as the proposals were concerned.
Are we looking at the cost of making the proposals by the British Airport Authority which made an excellent proposal but was not given the opportunity to bid with any degree of certainty?
If we look at Pearson Development Corporation it is only just, equitable and right that we look at what the British Airport Authority did in trying to present its best proposal to the House and to the government of the day. We must also look at the other proposals that were made and see what costs were borne by them. That is just, that is equitable and that is right.
To be exclusive in looking at compensation for out of pocket expenses for Pearson Development Corporation alone is not the right thing to do. We should take in the whole gamut of all those who spent considerable time and expense in developing proposals.
In conclusion, I trust that in the next four to eight weeks my colleagues on all sides of the House will be happy to get this problem over with as quickly as possible in order to get on with the decision as to whether we need a north-south runway at Pearson and deal with the problems associated with two extra east-west runways. Let us get on with the problem of what is going to happen to terminal 1. Should it be refurbished? It is a very good airport and accommodates eight or nine million people a year very comfortably.
In so far as transportation requirements are concerned in the country, we have to start to get on track. We are being superseded by communities that are not even half the size of Toronto. We are falling backward because we are failing to act and failing to do what is necessary in not only airport transportation but in passenger rail service and finding an economical way of getting our goods to market so that we can be globally competitive.
I implore all of my colleagues on all sides of the House, let us get down to business, let us get Pearson over with as fast as we can, let us get on with making Pearson a world class airport that we can all be proud of. I know the government with the support of our people on the other side will work toward this very fundamental, vital role for this airport that will be to the benefit of all of us.