No. H123/06
For release October 25, 2006
OTTAWA - The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, today released a consultation document in
support of a new international air transportation policy. Transport Canada is
seeking stakeholder views on the document, which calls for a modernized approach
to international air transportation, including Canada's bilateral air
transportation negotiations.
Transport Canada also seeks to engage stakeholders on longer-term issues that
are not part of the proposed policy. These issues are in a section entitled
Looking Ahead, which outlines:
a comprehensive Canada-European Union air agreement;
a review of ownership and control regimes of foreign air carriers;
movement towards the creation of a North American aviation market; and
the adoption of a multi-lateral approach to some negotiations, which means one agreement with a group of countries.
"Canada's New Government is committed to pursuing opportunities in international markets," said Minister Cannon. "More open air agreements between Canada and other countries should encourage the development of new markets and services, resulting in greater choice for travellers and shippers."
Canada's current approach is to gradually reduce restrictions in air agreements. Under the proposed new policy, the focus would be to pursue the negotiation of Open Skies type agreements when it is in Canada's overall interest.
Transport Canada will consider stakeholder comments during the consultation
phase, which ends on November 8th, 2006. Following a review of stakeholders'
comments, a statement on the new international air transportation policy is
expected to be released. Stakeholders will have until the end of December 2006
to provide comments separately on the longer-term issues outlined in the Looking
Ahead section of the document.
The consultation document is available on the Transport Canada website at www.tc.gc.ca/pol/en/ace/acea/menu.htm
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Lucie Vignola
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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