David Collenette

[Air Industry, February 21st, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I beg to differ with my distinguished colleague, but the air restructuring that we are going through has meant the opening up of more transborder routes to the United States and more international routes to Asia and to the Atlantic. Many of those routes will be going from Toronto as well as from the other larger cities across the country.

Last week I gave approval for Canada 3000 and Air Transat to fly to the United Kingdom and to Germany. There have been applications from Canada 3000 to fly Southeast Asian routes. There will be more and more choices and more and more competition that will be offered from Canadian cities on international routes.

[Municipal Grants Act, February 18th, 2000]

moved that Bill C-10, an act to amend the Municipal Grants Act, be read the third time and passed.

[Airline Industry, February 18th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, it will be the House and the Senate, the Parliament of Canada that will prevent price gouging, which was a cornerstone of our policy supported by the standing committees of both Houses of parliament.

I introduced Bill C-26 yesterday to restructure the airline industry. We will give new powers to the Canadian Transportation Agency to monitor monopoly pricing, not just on business class fares or on economy fares but on all classes of fares used by Canadians, recognizing that 85% or 90% of all fares that are used by Canadians are excursion fares.

We believe that this will protect Canadian consumers.

[Committees Of The House, February 17th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I apologize for being so rusty on the rules, but under the first order of business I neglected to table, in both official languages and pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government's response to the Standing Committee of Transport report on the restructuring of Canada's airline industry, fostering competition and protecting the public interest.

I would seek unanimous consent to allow me to table that response.

[Canada Transportation Act, February 17th, 2000]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-26, an act to amend the Canada Transportation Act, the Competition Act, the Competition Tribunal Act and the Air Canada Public Participation Act and to amend another act in consequence.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Jean Lesage Airport, February 7th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, last Friday, the government announced a financial agreement with the Société aéroportuaire de Québec. Negotiations on the legal and human resources aspects are continuing, but we do not anticipate any problems or major delays. In my view, the prospects for future development at this airport appear to be excellent.

[Port Of Halifax, December 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member seems to be completely unaware of the purpose of the Canada Marine Act which was to transfer the operations of these ports to local bodies, people who reflect the local communities, including representatives from federal, provincial and municipal governments.

The members of that port authority are outstanding citizens. They have the ability to manage the port and to maximize the advantage for the benefit of all people in Nova Scotia and indeed of all Canada. I am sure they are doing that, but we should not go down the route in the House of Commons of arguing about something which is a legal dispute that will be resolved by the courts.

[Port Of Halifax, December 16th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I have been made aware of this dispute. I should tell my hon. friend that this matter is now before the courts. Since legal action has been taken, it would be inappropriate for me to say anything more.

[Halifax International Airport, December 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, this government honours all of its commitments. In the meantime there has been a signed agreement between the authority and the government. I assume that covers the question the hon. member has outlined.

[Halifax International Airport, December 15th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, since that letter was written, there has been an agreement concluded with the Halifax International Airport Authority and it was to its satisfaction. If there is some problem with that agreement, then obviously I will look into it.