Kate Young

[Air Canada Public Participation Act, April 18th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I want to reiterate that Air Canada would continue to be expected to carry out maintenance activities in Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.

The amendments of this act recognize that some of Air Canada's aircraft maintenance may take place outside of the limits of those cities, in the surrounding provinces and in other provinces.

Notably, and we have mentioned this before, the Montreal Urban Community only covered part of greater Montreal and no longer exists as a jurisdiction.

Also, Air Canada's maintenance activities expand beyond the strict confines of those cities. For example, the carrier has extensive activity throughout the greater Toronto area beyond Mississauga, so it is obvious that this act would change only the part that is necessary and that we would continue to expect that it carry out maintenance activities in the three provinces.

[Air Canada Public Participation Act, April 18th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to underscore a couple of points for clarity.

The government wants Air Canada, which is a private company, to have the flexibility it needs to manage its business operations in 2016. We understand that since 1989, the air transportation sector has evolved and will continue to evolve. Air Canada needs the tools and regulatory supports to keep pace. However, this must be done within a framework that maintains adequate safeguards for Canadian workers and suppliers. That is why we propose to ensure the act continues to require that Air Canada carry out aircraft maintenance in certain Canadian regions. Therefore, we want this bill to proceed to the committee stage so we can hear from stakeholders and have more debate at the committee level.

[Air Canada Public Participation Act, April 18th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member and I can agree that our aerospace industry is very important, but he has forgotten some of the key points to the changes to this act and what this would do.

Quebec has estimated that the creation of the centre of excellence in Montreal alone could produce 1,000 jobs over 15 years, while the manufacturing of Air Canada's C Series aircraft could create an additional 300 jobs.

Air Canada also intends to support the creation of 150 jobs in Manitoba with the possibility of expanding beyond that.

It is obvious the opposition is not understanding the positive impact that the changes to the act would have.

[Air Canada Public Participation Act, April 18th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I want to take the time to reiterate that the government wants to ensure that the changes to the act would continue to require Air Canada to carry out aircraft maintenance in certain Canadian regions, and this proposed legislation maintains that commitment.

The act currently refers to the City of Winnipeg, the City of Mississauga, and the Montreal Urban Community. I take note that the Montreal Urban Community, which no longer exists as a jurisdiction, did not include all of greater Montreal. For example, it did not include Mirabel. Also, Air Canada's activities extend throughout the greater Toronto area, not just Mississauga. There have been a number of changes, and these changes to the act would enforce the requirement that jobs stay within Canada.

[Air Canada Public Participation Act, April 18th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I want my hon. colleague to explain why it is so important at this point to move it on to the committee stage.

[Air Canada Public Participation Act, April 18th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I want to understand why the hon. member is not considering the creation of the centre of excellence in Montreal that could produce upwards of 1,000 jobs over 15 years, while the manufacturer of Air Canada's C Series aircraft could create an additional 300 jobs, plus more jobs in Ontario and Manitoba.

I would like to understand why the member is dismissing that.

[Air Canada Public Participation Act, April 15th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, would the hon. member agree that this issue should be debated at the committee level so we can hear from witnesses and hear more of the discussion we need to have on this issue?

[Air Canada, April 15th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the Air Canada Public Participation Act is under debate today in the House. I am grateful to the hon. member for bringing that up. We will be debating it throughout the day, and I hope he will stand up and talk about his concerns with the act.

[The Environment, April 15th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, to reiterate, Transport Canada continues the process. We have consulted on a possible regime to address the hazardous wrecks, and we are incorporating feedback into the development of a comprehensive approach. We would want nothing less.

The cost of removing these vessels can be high and often beyond the capacity of local communities and marinas. We realize that this is an issue, and we are making sure that we address it as quickly as possible.

[The Environment, April 15th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, we want to make sure that everybody realizes that Transport Canada is working with its partners to develop options to address the issue of abandoned vessels and wrecks that can pose environmental and safety risks and cause local economic harm, for example, loss of revenue from reduced tourism.

We are on top of it. We are taking care of it.