QUESTION PERIOD — Transport
COVID-19 Pandemic--Regional Airports
June 18, 2020
Thank you, Your Honour. My question is for the Representative of the Government in the Senate.
In a report prepared by RCAC, the Regional Community Airports of Canada — an organization that represents more than 55 regional airports across Canada, dedicated to promoting the viability of regional and community airports across the country — key messages are being communicated about the urgent need for support for regional airports that have been hit hard by COVID-19.
In fact, many of our regional airports face the risk of bankruptcy and permanent closure in the face of losses of 90% of their revenues in too many cases.
Although emergency measures were put in place to help businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, most regional airports run by municipalities are not eligible for them.
Given the key role that regional airports play on an economic, social and medical level, both in providing transportation for passengers and in the delivery of critical supplies to many remote communities in Canada, how does the government intend to respond to the repeated and urgent calls for help it has been receiving from this organization since April?
Thank you for your question. The government recognizes the importance of the services provided by all airports to ensure that people can continue to travel and essential supplies can continue to be delivered. The government is therefore waiving rent for 21 major airports in Canada and for the Billy Bishop airport in Toronto from March to December 2020.
As for smaller regional airports that are owned by municipalities, over 50 of which are members of the Regional Community Airports of Canada. Thank you for the advanced warning of this. It gave us an opportunity to make inquiries with representatives in several government departments over the last days, but regrettably I’ve not yet received the information back to respond to your concerns. I’ll make further inquiries.
Thank you.
