Mr. Speaker, the Secretary of State for International Financial Institutions seems to suggest there is a such a hurry that we can go down the wrong road if need be to apply security fees.
Security in Canada should not be based on a user fee process. We do not charge user fees at our ports where there are security issues with the containers coming in. We do not charge user fees in our cities where there are problems with bikers who pose a security risk. It is a general concept that security in Canada is paid for by all taxpayers. The concept should be recognized in the case of airport security as well.
The system the government is proposing would cause companies like WestJet to withdraw from my hometown of Grande Prairie, Alberta on flights to Calgary and Edmonton because they would be competing against people who drive. The added cost of an airport security fee would be a big expense to WestJet. It would cause the loss of a carrier.
There is a need for more security at airports. That was evident after September 11. I agree with the secretary of state. However let us not get it wrong. Let us get the process right. The fee should come out of the general revenue. The government must recognize this. It is a concept we use all the time. If there are a lot of speeders on a highway who pose a security risk the RCMP does not tax the people along the highway. It comes out of the general revenue.
We must think in terms of a broader approach. I ask the secretary of state to reconsider the whole concept.