AIRPORT POLITICS
MP suggests legislative change to save tower
Windsor West MP Brian Masse believes he has found a way to prevent the city's airport from losing its control tower — but it will only work with political will behind it.
“The solution is to amend the legislation,” Masse said on Friday about the ongoing issue between Windsor International Airport and Nav Canada.
Masse said he is having a parliamentary legal team research the subject, and he believes that changing Section 4.91 of the Aeronautics Act, or changing Section 14 of the Civil Air Navigation Service Commercialization Act, would empower federal Minister of Transport Marc Garneau to “pre-emptively veto” Nav Canada's review of Windsor's airport.
“What does this mean, specifically, in practical terms? If the government today is seriously interested in preserving the (services) at the airport ... we can quickly bring into effect laws to allow the minister to have that capability,” Masse said.
Windsor officials first learned in November that Nav Canada — the privatized national provider of civil air navigation services — has listed Windsor International Airport
among several airports to be studied for potential replacement of its air control staff with “airport advisory services.”
Long-term air traffic levels and cost savings have been cited as reasons for the review.
Garneau has said the decision rests with Nav Canada and that Transport Canada can only intervene on safety matters. As well, Transport Canada disagreeing with Nav Canada's decision could take years to make a difference.
“The response from the government is, basically, `We can't do anything about this. We can't stop the process. That's the way it is,'” Masse lamented on Friday.
Municipal leaders and regional elected representatives have publicly expressed concern and disapproval of the possibility of Windsor International Airport being without a control tower.
Masse, a New Democratic Party member, said he is open to working with other parties on his idea. He estimated that drafts of the necessary amendments could be ready by the end of January.
“From there, it's a matter of how quickly we get interest in it,” Masse said.
Masse acknowledged that changing the legislation would impact
not only the review of Windsor's airport but also the reviews of airports in other regions. He said crafting of the amendments is still in the early stages.
Nevertheless, Masse believes his proposal will answer questions about Transport Canada's position on the issue.
“This is a clear path forward — if the government wants it,” Masse said. “It's a legislative approach to doing things.”
Dante Albano, a commercial pilot who organized a petition to save Windsor International Airport's control tower, said he's in full agreement with Masse's idea.
“This would give (the minister) the power. After that, there wouldn't really be any more excuses to go by,” Albano said. “I want to see the study to go away. I want to see our tower stay. And so does everyone else.”