NLIS 6
March 20, 2003
(Executive Council)

 

The following statement was issued today by Tom Lush, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Cabinet Committee on Air Policy, Aerospace and the Military

I rise today to update the house on the Cabinet Committee on Air Policy, Aerospace and the Military.

This committee was established in December 2001 and in addition to ongoing activities, was directed to provide advice on commercial air presence into and out of various parts of the province with particular emphasis on transportation issues Gander and west, and to develop a coordinated response to decreased seat availability in and out of our province. The committee was also mandated to review issues surrounding the aerospace industry and military presence and to recommend policy initiatives to address these areas of concern.

To fulfill its mandate the committee met with the principle stakeholders involved with these issues including Air Canada Jazz, Air Labrador, Provincial Airlines, CFB Goose Bay Allied Commanders and Wing Commander Glynne Hines, as well as various municipal officials.

As an example of our activities, as recently as last week, my colleague the Minister of Works Services and Transportation and I met with the Mayor of Labrador City and his officials to discuss their concerns with the high cost of charter services for residents of Labrador.

While air access and the military are within federal jurisdiction, I have continued efforts to ensure that the province�s concerns on air access and the military have been addressed with the Government of Canada. I have met with federal ministers, and this province�s representatives in the House of Commons and the Senate. I have also discussed military participation in the low level flying training program at CFB Goose Bay with the German, Italian, British and Dutch Ambassadors to Canada.

As a result of all of this activity, and the information gathered from all sources, as chair, I am pleased to table in the House of Assembly the Report and Recommendations of the Cabinet Committee on Air Policy, Aerospace, and the Military. My government has already acted on several of the recommendations and work will continue on the remaining items.

I look forward to working closely with my colleagues as we continue our efforts to enhance air access to and within Newfoundland and Labrador where possible, and to assist in the growth of the aerospace industry, and of the military presence in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Gander, and St. John�s.

2003 03 20                                       2:10 p.m.


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