Tuesday, October 26, 2004

Ottawa – Nav Canada’s recommendation to close the Flight Service Stations at the Dawson Creek and Prince George airports is a blatant rejection of local concerns about safety and economic development, Jay Hill, Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River, said today.

“Today’s release of Nav Canada’s Level of Service Review was extremely disappointing, but not unexpected,” said Hill. “It was clear from the outset, during the meetings I held with Nav Canada officials throughout the past year, that their decision to terminate these services in Dawson Creek and Prince George was pre-determined. The so-called consultation process was a sham!” added Hill.

The Nav Canada review was undertaken to find the ‘most efficient and effective service’ while ensuring that safety would not be ‘unacceptably’ compromised. A camera will be installed at the Dawson Creek airport to replace the flight service station.

“Airlines and consumers using the Dawson Creek and Prince George airports are essentially being told they’ll have to’ accept’ the risks involved in having substandard weather and airport surveillance,” stated Hill. “It remains to be seen how effective a camera will be in ensuring pilots can accurately judge landing conditions at the airport.”

Hill pointed out the proposal disrupts ongoing development at the Prince George Airport. “On one hand, we’re appealing to the federal government for more customs agents for Prince George so that it can better market itself as a truly international facility. Meanwhile, another federal body is scaling back service to the facility. Even Nav Canada admits growth is expected at the Prince George airport, yet it’s forging ahead with these cuts.”

The closure of the flight service stations and other cuts will not be implemented until the Fall of 2005, at the earliest, and only after the Minister of Transport approves Nav Canada’s recommendations. Hill concluded, “The Transport Minister can no longer pass the buck on this issue as he has been for months. The ball is firmly in his court now, and I will step up demands that he reconsider these recommendations that adversely affect safety and operations at the Dawson Creek and Prince George airports.

For more information, please contact:
Jay Hill, M.P. (613) 947-4524 or (250) 787-119