Mr. Speaker, the recent merger of Canada's two major airlines is causing Victoria's tourism industry to crash.
Hotel occupancy has dropped from 64% to 54% over the same period last year. In the month of August, which is the busiest time for tourism in Victoria, air service will be down with 18% fewer seats than over the same period last year and the prices will be higher.
The Mayor of Victoria, Allan Lowe, has travelled to Ottawa this week to remind the federal government that the significant reduction in air service to Victoria is hurting tourism.
The federal government seems to have once again forgotten where British Columbia is located. It does not seem to matter whether it is Nisga'a, wharf divestiture, Nanoose Bay, leaky condos and now tourism in Victoria, it seems to completely drop the ball and forget that British Columbia is part of Canada.
The government has promised to ensure that Air Canada lives up to its commitment to ensure that service is not reduced. It is time for the government to act. We are tired of the talk.