Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here this evening to talk about the question I asked the Minister of Transport, which was:
...Nav Canada is planning to close air traffic control towers across the country. One of those control towers is in Regina at the international airport.
I met with Nav Canada officials on December 4 to talk about the process to close these towers and how it would decide which ones would be shuttered. It said that this process would take months.
My question is for the Minister of Transport. Why is it that Regina airport employees received notice of layoffs on January 14, if this report is not even finished yet?
The response I received from Minister of Transport was less than satisfactory. He said:
Nav Canada is undertaking several studies to assess the level of service needed. No decision has been made. It is important to note that any changes in the level of service proposed by Nav Canada will be subjected to a rigorous safety assessment by Transport Canada. The process provides for full consultation with all affected stakeholders.
The problem I have with this answer is that I believe the decision has already been made, as do the workers at the air traffic control towers at the Regina International Airport. They are just trying to find ways the report confirms their biased decision to have these air traffic control towers closed.
I have heard often now from members, including the members for Kingston and the Islands and Winnipeg North. They talk about a team Canada approach. I want to bring up one thing that we should all have in common. A letter came from premiers across the country where these air traffic control towers are going to be closed. These premiers included Sandy Silver from Yukon, John Horgan from B.C., Jason Kenney from Alberta, Scott Moe from Saskatchewan, François Legault in Quebec and Doug Ford in Ontario.
All these premiers have asked a question, and I believe it is a reasonable ask. I would like it answered from whoever will be representing the Minister of Transport this evening. Premiers of all political stripes coming forward and asking for a delay in this review until we can know what will happen to air traffic, complex flights and the flights returning after COVID-19 is not an unreasonable request. The premiers and I are asking to delay this review until we get to pre-COVID-19 flight status across the country to see which airports will be active and which will not.
The next question I have to whoever will be answering the questions this evening is concerning the 15 Wing air base in Moose Jaw. It is in the same flight zone as the Regina International Airport. It is imperative that the Department of National Defence take into consideration what would happen if there was no air traffic control tower in Regina. There are complex flights going through there and the safety of the trainees at the 15 Wing airbase is of paramount importance. The safety for all air travellers should be important. I ask that a decision not be made until the Department of National Defence takes into consideration safety at 15 Wing Moose Jaw.
The fact that the people of Regina think this air traffic control tower may be closing has already affected flights and possible flights. We have travel agents who say that Air Canada has said there will not be some trips taken, and it is affecting people throughout the City of Regina. I talked to travel agents Laura Lawrence and—