Background information: Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities: Reducing Red Tape and Costs on Rural and Urban Canadian Airports (June 16, 2022)
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities: Meeting summaries
Name of the Committee: Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Date and Time: , 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Location: Room 315, Wellington Building, 197 Sparks Street (and Webcast)
Study: Reducing Red Tape and Costs on Rural and Urban Canadian Airports
Drafted by: Justin Bernard, A/ Parliamentary Affairs Advisor
Witnesses
11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Air North
Joseph Sparling, President
Canadian Airports Council
Monette Pasher, Interim President
Canadian Business Aviation Association
Anthony Norejko, President and Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Robin Guy, Senior Director, Transportation, Infrastructure and Regulatory Policy
Northern Air Transport Association
Glenn Priestly, Executive Director
Pascan Inc.
- Julian Roberts, President and Chief Executive Officer
- Yani Gagnon, Executive Vice-President
Overview of appearance
During its opening remarks, Air North stated that the United States provides a better business environment than Canada, citing the Air Traveller Security Charge, airport rents and American subsidies for their airports. He stated the issue is the lack of a low-cost environment for airlines. He also suggested that northern air transportation should be considered an essential service. He completed his remarks by suggesting flow through concessions to airports in addition to tax concessions to airlines. He also underlined the issue of the cost of fuel.
The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) began by providing a snapshot of the air transportation sector. The CAC noted the Airports Capital Assistance Program (ACAP) has frozen annual allotments while noting a funding boost from Budget 2022. The Regional Airport Transportation Initiative was also mentioned, indicating the program should be renewed for five years in order to help recover regional routes.
The Canadian Business Aviation Association noted time/cost decisions by consumers focus on three themes: customer experience, access and price. They then stated that a whole of industry strategic aviation policy was needed, which should focus on the role of governments, airports, airlines, air operators, air navigation service providers and manufacturing and maintenance. They also noted that the existing user-pay model only works if revenue streams exist, while underlining that this issue is also impacting recovery by organizations, including CBSA. Overall, while supporting financial assistance programs, they noted that airports are recuperating COVID-19 costs by charging current consumers.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce welcomed the pandemic support programs as a lifeline. The Chamber stated that regulations established during the pandemic should be reviewed, in addition to noting security staff shortages, issues with passport delays and NEXUS. They also noted investments in the health of airports will be required, citing the renewal of the ACAP and ACIP programs as vital. They also stated that the Government should reconsider its decision to only defer rent payments for 2022/2023 with the view of cancelling rent payments to allow for capital infrastructure investments at airports. They completed their remarks with by noting the success of Trusted Traveller Programs, noting that Canada has not leveraged to the same degree as other countries.
The Northern Air Transport Association stated that flight and duty times revisions will increase costs and result in preventing same day return flights. He cited a conference that occurred recently and noted a "regulatory cascade" needed to stop. The organization also noted a labor shortage within the industry before shifting to the rising costs in the industry partially due to the level of debt assumed during the pandemic. The organization called for a Northern Aviation Skills Strategy to be developed with the Government.
Pascan Inc. began their opening remarks by noting concerns with rising fees in Quebec, including landing, terminal, security and airport terminal fees. The official also claimed to pay larger per seat fees for deicing services than larger aircraft. The flight and duty requirements were mentioned as an additional pressure while stating that certain exemptions for smaller air operators were no longer in place. The official wrapped up by noting the cost of fuel is having a real impact on the cost of tickets.
MP Lantsman began by asking if Canadian airports are globally competitive, with the CAC stating that competitiveness is an issue, noting the different level of support offered in Canada compared to the United States during the pandemic. She then shifted to asking about how Toronto Pierson could become a hub like Minneapolis or Atlanta. The Airports Council noted Canada's cost structure is an issue, with the level of rent that airports contribute to pay being a consideration. She nonetheless noted that the existing model works and has a lot of value but that tweaks could address existing issues while stating that a privatized model would increase costs. MP Lantsman completed her questioning by asking if the vaccine mandates are having an impact on staffing shortages and the Airports Council's views on airport authorities receiving access to capital markets.
Asking about lessons learned from the pandemic, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce said a review of regulations would help in boosting competitiveness. Pascan Inc. noted a program by the Government of Quebec that sought to help regional airlines that was vital while noting that other jurisdictions adopted a "trickle-down" effect of supporting large carriers with benefits reaching smaller carriers while noting the pilot shortage is the biggest ongoing issue. MP Iacono then shifted to the recovery stage, with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce noting digitization of processes would be a key improvement. He completed his first round by asking about lessons learned in northern air transport, with Air North also citing Quebec's support program, and expressed his belief that northern air transport to remote communities is more akin to a public utility and should be funded as such.
MP Sinclair-Desgagné, replacing for MP Barsalou-Duval, asked whether witnesses believed Air Canada's regional routes would be returning. Pascan Inc. noted that Air Canada has signed Interline Agreements with regional carriers and said they believe that these agreements (cooperation between national and regional carriers) is simply a new model. She then shifted to ask if there was something Government could do to help foster national/regional airline "alliances", with Pascan Inc. indicating that the Government could help ensure interline agreements are in place. During her second round of questions, she focused on the cost differences between small and large aircrafts, with Pascan Inc. providing an explanation, outlining that ticket costs incorporate several taxes and fees. She also enquired on whether support programs such as Quebec's could be useful, with one witness stating it is too early to estimate their value and a second witness reiterating a recommendation from a TRAN report regarding interline agreements, suggesting these should be mandatory in Canada.
MP Bachrach began his questions by asking if airlines were net contributors to the Government, with the Airports Council concurring with that view. MP Bachrach then asked if market value estimates exist for the lands occupied by airports and if the existing rent aligns with market values, with the Airports Council noting that rents are too expensive. MP Bachrach indicated his belief that the rent charged is smaller than market value and could be considered a subsidy to airports. He completed his questions for the first round by asking if Canada's geography and population density accounts for some of the issues. During his second round of questions, he asked about regulatory changes that could help small air operators, with Pascan Inc. suggesting costs be marked by number of seats for deicing services. Julian Roberts (with Pascan Inc.) stating his opinion that the new flight duty rules were "one-size-fits-all". MP Bachrach also asked witnesses to expand on the issues facing CATSA, with the Canadian Airports Council providing background on the ongoing recruitment and training efforts by the Crown corporation.
MP Jeneroux claimed that the Minister blamed travelling Canadians for airport delays and asked if any immediate actions could be undertaken to speed up processes. The CAC cited the labor shortage as a challenge while noting that security screenings require improvements, pre-checks and the expansion of the Trusted Traveller Program were potential solutions while underlining the importance of reviewing legacy COVID-19 protocols. He then shifted to the potential of passport delays and the NEXUS program, with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce noting a review of regulations with an economic lens and addressing the labor shortages would help the recovery of the industry.
MP Rogers started by recalling a previous study by the Committee on pilot shortages and asked what federal programs witnesses could access and if those programs were useful. Witnesses welcomed federal support provided, with the CAC expressing support for the idea of extending support programs.
MP Dowdall began by enquiring about whether ArriveCAN and other pandemic restrictions are reducing demand for travel, with the CAC noting that removing legacy procedures would be an improvement. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce noted that the Government should work to promote the ArriveCAN application. The Canadian Business Aviation Association noted some statistics prior to shifting to the impact of the vaccine mandate and other pandemic restrictions.
Parliamentary Secretary Koutrakis offered a correction of the comment raised by MP Jeneroux relating to the Minister. The CAC concurred with the notion that the issue is multi-faceted, including the lack of available staff and the need to leverage programs like the Trusted Traveller initiative. The Canadian Business Aviation Association suggested changes to the NEXUS program to have dedicated NEXUS lines throughout the boarding process and the establishment of risk profiles for individuals to streamline the boarding process. The PS completed her questions by discussing alternative testing measures with the witnesses, with one suggesting wastewater analysis and another the use of take-home kits as an alternative.
MP Muys asked what the most cumbersome regulation was to each witness. The removal of the vaccine mandate (to address the labor shortage) and legacy health restrictions (moving testing off-site of airports) and the flight and duty rules were noted, which the witness stating his belief that the rules are not based on science.
MP Chahal asked whether Toronto Pierson had invested in additional CATSA staff to address delays, with the CAC noting the particular financial situation of the airport was the reason this is not currently being considered. The Council clarified their position on COVID-19 measures, noting that they are suggesting alternative testing methods be reviewed to replace the existing method at airports, which were identified as interrupting the flow of traffic.
Next Steps: There are no next steps.
Forward agenda of the Committee:
May 12: Consideration of the draft report on targeted infrastructure investments
May 16 and 19: Study on reduction of red tape and costs to rural and urban airports Constituency week
May 30: Appearance by the Minister of Transport on the Main Estimates 2022 to 2023
June 2: Third meeting on the reduction of red tape and costs to rural and urban airports
Name of the Committee: Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Date and Time: , 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Location: Room 315, Wellington Building, 197 Sparks Street (and Webcast)
Study: Reducing Red Tape and Costs on Rural and Urban Canadian Airports
Drafted by: Justin Bernard, A/ Parliamentary Affairs Advisor
Witnesses
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Air Canada
David Rhéault, Vice President, Government and Community Relations
Air Transat
Howard Liebman, Senior Director, Government and Community Affairs
National Airlines Council of Canada
Suzanne Acton-Gervais, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
WestJet Airlines Ltd.
Andy Gibbons, Vice-President, Government and Regulatory Affairs
4:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Coopérative de transport régional du Québec
Serge Larivière, Director General, President of Mont-Tremblant International Airport
Town of Smithers
Gladys Atrill, Mayor
Overview of appearance
The first panel began with opening remarks by the National Airlines Council of Canada. During its opening remarks, the National Airlines Council of Canada noting that Canada stands out as a country with legacy pandemic restrictions, noting they rely on the Government for certain credential processing. The Council noted that organizations involved in air travel need to be adequately funded with service standards. She completed by noting high costs and fees as reducing Canada's air travel competitiveness, which the Council noted was exacerbated by the user-fee model, with organizations increasing fees. During the second panel, The Mayor of Smithers focused her remarks on the cost of air fares for small towns, including towns without competition between carriers. She noted that some issues due to lack of competition could be addressed by regulation. The Coopérative de transport régional du Québec focused on the impact of the fees by CBSA and CATSA for their services. The Coopérative opposed CATSA and CBSA's cost recovery practices, noting their view that if airports are designated, CATSA and the CBSA should be funded to be able to perform all services they are required to do.
MP Terry Dowdall began his questions by citing a WestJet statement and asked if the company believes the Government is following science and data with pandemic restrictions. WestJet stated that they encourage the Government to table the advice they have received from public health experts. MP Dowdall then cited a tweet from WestJet's COO calling for pandemic restrictions to be dropped, with WestJet noting the largest issue is labor shortages and have requested that unvaccinated workers be allowed to return to work. Shifting to the impact on WestJet staff, the company stated that 300 employees have lost their job due to the vaccination mandates. WestJet also stated they are not aware of a case being traced to a WestJet flight while noting they work closely with public health officials and Transport Canada, describing the relationship as "very strong" albeit with some irritants. WestJet also stated that they believe a more seamless recovery is required and that travelers could be dissuaded from travelling is subject to issues such as tarmac delays. Switching to Air Canada, the company noted that testing is not required for most other activities in Canadian society and that restrictions should be reviewed to align with other activities in Canada and with air travel restrictions in other jurisdictions.
MP Vance Badawey noted his desire to focus on the existing irritants in air travel. He asked if the National Airlines Council have any data on changing consumer habits (ex.: postponing booking due to predictability, etc.). He then asked how the air transport industry tracks international restrictions, with the Airlines council noting that the International Air Transport Association tracks air travel restrictions. The National Airlines Council noted that air travel accounts for 1% of COVID-19 cases. He then asked how airlines have survived the pandemic and how the Government can assist airlines in the future, with the Airlines Council suggesting the Government review all third-party fees and charges and consider reinvesting the money in the airports. The also noted that a path and a plan was required to address the ebbs and flows of the pandemic in accounting for new variants of COVID-19.
MP Xavier Barsalou-Duval started by asking Air Transat if he believes there's a future and benefits for interline agreements with regional air carriers, with Air Transat supportive of such agreements as with Pascan and noted that such agreements simplify travel for passengers. He then asked if there's ways the Government can facilitate the establishment of interline agreements, with Air Transat and Air Canada being supportive of ways to facilitate such agreements and the latter reiterating that fees and taxes impact regional air competitiveness while noting certain fees and taxes do not exist in the US. WestJet also noted that the user pay system is a different model than how the Government treats other modes of transportation, noting that the Government should look at intermodal fairness (example given is that regional rail gets funding but not regional air travel). MP Barsalou-Duval also asked how other jurisdictions operate air travel, with the National Airlines Council noting that countries have moved away from user-pay models and that the fees/taxes should be reinvested in the air transportation sector. Air Transat was also supportive of the idea of reviewing the user pay model especially for areas where there is a need for air transport without necessarily having a consumer base to sustain a user-pay model. During the second panel, MP Barsalou-Duval asked, and received concurrence from the Coopérative, to the idea of having the federal government assume certain fees and taxes in instances where the airport/airline services in an area could be designated an essential service. The Coopérative also noted that reductions in NAV CANADA fees could be helpful. The Coopérative was supportive of the American air sector model, which features more direct investments by the Federal Aviation Administration rather than relying on airport authorities to invest in airport infrastructure.
MP Taylor Bachrach began by noting his questions would be specific to northwestern British Columbia. Citing air fares in similar regions of British Columbia, MP Bachrach asked why fares are so different in nearby areas. The National Airlines Council stated that fees and taxes in various communities account for competitive disadvantages and varying prices MP Bachrach pressed on the issue, noting that one market in northwestern BC has competition and lower prices compared to markets where Air Canada is the sole carrier, with Air Canada not able to provide a specific answer to the situation in northwestern BC. MP Bachrach then shifted to asking if the federal government has offered a reason for a domestic vaccine mandate, with the National Airlines Council stating they have not heard a rationale. MP Bachrach stated that airlines have begun scheduling flights to more central hubs and away from medium-sized airports and asked if this was an accurate depiction, with Air Canada and WestJet noting they do not believe this is part of the issue. WestJet stated they do not believe that the Minister of Transport believes this either, citing testimony from the Minister that he had not, did not and would not ask airlines to change their schedules. During the second panel, MP Bachrach focused his questions on the issues facing the airport of Smithers within his riding. The Mayor of Smithers noted that in their case, airports do not have many funding streams to help alleviate shortfalls in revenue. Relating to enhancement of safety regulations, such as enhancing lighting, the mayor noted that a lack of funding is problematic and that the funding should be attached to the new regulation to reduce stress on small airports. The mayor of Smithers described the Airports Capital Assistance Program as amazing but noted that additional support was needed for small and regional airports.
MP Matt Jeneroux began by asking if the lifting of the pandemic restrictions would help their operational challenges, with the airlines supporting the idea. Pandemic restrictions were defined as ending on-site mandatory testing, duplicative questions during border processing and vaccine mandates. Primary areas of revisions noted by the Airlines Council included ArriveCAN, the user pay model and legacy pandemic restrictions. WestJet confirmed that they have not really seen public health data beyond what is publicly available. Shifting to standards of care rules, MP Jeneroux asked if airlines are the only organizations with standard of service regulations. WestJet noted their belief that they are the only organizations in the air travel process with codified standard of care rules. MP Jeneroux asked if airlines would support regulations for standards of care, WestJet was supportive of the notion throughout the air travel experience for both convenience and air travel competitiveness reasons. MP Jeneroux asked WestJet to provide examples and explanations for why certain consumers might choose to travel through an American airport rather than the nearest Canadian airport. WestJet noted the fees charged to travellers are one of the rationales for departure from American airports. Air Canada claimed that Canada is the only country that charges airport rents, noting that the money is not always reinvested in the air industry.
MP Angelo Iacono noted that certain labor shortages are due to screening workers being hired as baggage handlers, with the National Airlines Council confirmed that there is a mandate for screening officers to be vaccinated while not being able to confirm if vaccination mandates exist for other parts of the airports. Asked about operational delays, the National Airlines Council noted difficulties dealing with passenger frustrations in addition to labor shortages with border services. He then asked what percentage of employees who are unvaccinated within CATSA, CBSA and airlines. The Council stated 10% for airlines but noted that the answer for CATSA and CBSA should be directed to those organizations. He then asked the airlines which federal programs were most valuable to their companies. WestJet noted they did not receive a company specific relief package, noting they mainly relied on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. Organizations offered thankful comments for the Government's financial support.
MP Churence Rogers began his questions by noting working groups announced to address bottlenecks in airports, with WestJet noting they believe the Government takes the issue seriously, with WestJet, Air Canada stating they have been engaged. Airlines have noted the priority has been to remove barriers to travel, with one official noting the health questioning as one measure that causes delays in processing passengers. Asking if the airports delay situation is getting better, WestJet noted they have seen some progress in addressing tarmac delays while noting that the trend needs to continue. Air Canada concurred in WestJet's assessment of the situation.
MP Joel Godin asked the Coopérative to expand on the themes of their opening remarks, with the Coopérative stating that there's a grandfather clause dynamic where CATSA's operating budget is limited to cover costs for certain major airports and that the cost recovery for other airports unfairly reduce the competitiveness of airports who have received the designation after 2006.
Parliamentary Secretary Koutrakis focused her questions on the Coopérative, asking what the company's model was. The Coopérative noted they were focusing on building regional air connectivity. The Parliamentary Secretary asked how the Government could support the Coopérative model, with the company noting that protections against larger established airlines looking to undercut the price of smaller companies would be helpful. She then asked what recommendations they would make to improve the situation, noting that floor prices could help alleviate pressure from anti-competitive pricing by larger airlines and airports.
Next Steps: There are no next steps.
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities: Committee bios
Committee Members: At a glance
Peter Schiefke (Chair)
Political affiliation: Liberal Party of Canada
Constituency: Vaudreuil – Soulanges, Quebec
Peter was first elected as a Member of Parliament by the citizens of Vaudreuil-Soulanges in . Shortly thereafter he was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth by Prime Minister Trudeau and in 2018 was given the additional responsibilities of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction. In 2019 Peter was re-elected and was shortly thereafter appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. In , Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked him to take on the role of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
Prior to entering into politics Peter worked in numerous capacities lending his expertise in sustainable development to both domestic and international causes. His passion for positive social change inspired his work as the Director and Co-Founder of Youth Action Canada, the CEED Program based in Uganda, East Africa and his work as the National Director of Climate Reality Canada, an organization founded by former US Vice-President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore. For his work he has been awarded a Federal Minister's Commendation, the YMCA Peace Prize and the Forces Avenir Award for Peace Justice and Humanitarian Aid.
Peter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Concordia University as well as a Master of Science in Renewable Resources from McGill University and currently lives with his wife and two children in his riding of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Quebec.
Member of the following Committee(s):
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Issues raised relating to the Transport Canada portfolio:
- Investments in public transit
- Support for Zero-Emission Vehicles
Annie Koutrakis
Political affiliation: Liberal Party of Canada
Constituency: Vimy, Quebec
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
MP Annie Koutrakis was first elected in the 2019 federal election. Following the opening of the 43rd Parliament, MP Koutrakis served on the Standing Committee on Finance, the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic and briefly served on the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying. In addition, she has also served as a member of a number of parliamentary associations and interparliamentary groups.
Prior to entering politics, she worked as the President, CEO, Chair of the executive committee and member of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal. She has also served in multiple capacities for local organizations.
MP Koutrakis has a diploma in Social Sciences/Business Administration from Dawson College and has studied Human Resources Management at Concordia University. She is fluent in French, English and Greek.
Member of the following committee(s):
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Issues raised relating to the Transport Canada portfolio:
- Support for the air and aerospace industry
- Support for independent travel advisors
- Municipal public transit infrastructure
- Deployment of Zero-Emission Vehicles
Vance Badawey
Political affiliation: Liberal Party of Canada
Constituency: Niagara Centre, Ontario
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services
Vance Badawey was first elected as Member of Parliament on for the riding of Niagara Centre. Mr. Badawey began his career in public service as a City Councillor for the City of Port Colborne in 1994. He thereafter was elected as Mayor of Port Colborne in 1997. In 2006 he was re-elected to the office of Mayor in Port Colborne and Regional Councillor for the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
As the Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, MP Badawey has collaborated with several parliamentary caucuses, including the Indigenous, Horseshoe, Rural and Steel caucuses.
Member of the following Committee(s):
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
TC-related topics raised since the 43rd Canadian general election:
- Climate change
- Investments in public transit
- Voiced support for the ECCC Great Lakes Protection Initiative
Issues of interest:
- Rail Safety
- Transportation infrastructure investments
- Level crossing
- Oversight mechanisms
- Maintenance, repair and replacement of VIA Rail's fleet
- CTA Review – Long-term agenda for the future of transportation in Canada
- National strategy on transportation and logistics (intermodal connections)
Angelo Iacono
Political affiliation: Liberal Party of Canada
Constituency: Alfred – Pellan, Quebec
Politician, attorney, public servant and humanitarian. Previously candidate in the 2011 general election and firstly elected in .
Angelo graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from McGill University, completed his studies in civil law at UQAM and obtained his Juris Doctor from Ottawa University, which led to his certification from the Upper Canada Law Society. In search of new horizons, Angelo obtained a certificate from the European Union and its Institutions at the Law Faculty of Lyon (France).
Member of the following Committee(s):
- Standing Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities
- Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament
TC-related topics raised:
- Port of Montreal Operations Act, 2021
- Zero emission vehicles
Other Issues of Interest:
- Senior citizens
- Families and children
- Small and medium-sized enterprises
- Rail Safety
- Locomotive Voice Recorders
- VIA Rail – Replacement of Fleet
- Air Canada Public Participation Act and Competitiveness of Airline Industry
George Chahal
Political affiliation: Liberal Party of Canada
Constituency: Calgary Skyview, Alberta
MP George Chahal was first elected in the 44th Canadian general election as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Calgary Skyview. Prior to his election to Parliament, he served as a member of the Calgary City Council.
Prior to his political career, he worked in the financial sector and the construction sector. MP Chahal has a BA in Economics and a Masters in Environmental Design from the University of Calgary.
Member of the following Committee(s):
- Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
- Standing Committee on Natural Resources
Issues raised relating to the Transport Canada portfolio:
- Delays at airports
- Railway safety
- National Trade Corridors Fund
- Investment in public transit
Churence Rogers
Political affiliation: Liberal Party of Canada
Constituency: Bonavista – Burin – Trinity, Newfoundland and Labrador
Mr. Rogers is the Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Bonavista – Burin – Trinity. He was first elected in a by-election that was held on . Mr. Rogers was elected with 69.2% of the vote.
Before entering federal politics, Mr. Churence Rogers served as the Mayor of Centreville-Wareham-Trinity and as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities.
Member of the following Committee(s):
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
TC-related topics raised during the 42nd Parliament:
- Transportation logistics in eastern Canada
- Seat belt regulations
- Ferry rates by Marine Atlantic Inc.
Melissa Lantsman
Political affiliation: Conservative Party of Canada
Constituency: Thornhill, Ontario
MP Lantsman went to the University of Toronto and is fluent in both official languages.
Melissa Lantsman has a background in communications and has served in various roles throughout her career. She has worked both in the private sector and within the federal government. In this capacity, she provided strategic advice, media-training, debate preparation and speech coaching to various individuals.
MP Lantsman is also commentator on political strategy and communications and has appeared on television in this capacity.
Member of the following committee(s):
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Issues raised relating to the Transport Canada portfolio:
- Port closures
- Supply chain disruptions (container shortages)
- Cargo shipping
- Harbour and labour capacity shortages
- Impact of COVID-19 on the air sector
- Restrictions imposed due to COVID-19
Matt Jeneroux
Political affiliation: Conservative Party of Canada
Constituency: Edmonton Riverbend, Alberta
Matt Jeneroux studied at the University of Alberta, where he graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts. Prior to his work in politics, Mr. Jeneroux worked for Health Canada.
In 2012, Matt Jeneroux was elected to the provincial assembly of Alberta, running as a candidate for the Progressive Conservatives of the province. In 2015, Matt Jeneroux lost re-election in his riding of Edmonton – South West. He was thereafter elected to the House of Commons in the 2015 federal election as a Conservative Member of Parliament in the riding of Edmonton Riverbend.
As an MP, Mr. Jeneroux has focused on several issues that related to his critic portfolios. In his capacity as the Western Economic Diversification critic, he introduced a motion calling on the Government to study potential legislative and regulatory reforms to support the geothermal industry.
Matt Jeneroux is married to Dr. Elizabeth Clement, with whom he has two daughters, Molly and Lily.
Member of the following committee(s):
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Issues of interest:
- Expanding Terwillegal Drive into an expressway (local project)
- Creation of a 41st Avenue interchange to alleviate traffic congestion on 111 Street (local project)
- Mental health issues in young men
- Advocacy for young girls outreach in STEM-related fields
Terry Dowdall
Political affiliation: Conservative Party of Canada
Constituency: Simcoe – Grey, Ontario
MP Dowdall was first elected during the 43rd Canadian general election as the Member of Parliament for Simcoe – Grey. During the 43rd Parliament, he served as a member of the Standing Committee on National Defence and the Special Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Throughout his career, MP Dowdall has expressed interest in a number of issues, including the promotion of small businesses, services for members of the Canadian Forces and advocacy for those suffering from Cystic Fibrosis.
Prior to his political career, MP Dowdall worked as a business owner and municipal leader. He has served as Mayor, Deputy Mayor and councillor for the Township of Essa. He also worked as a Simcoe County councillor from 2003 to 2018 and was elected Simcoe County's Deputy Warden in 2014 and 2016. MP Dowdall has also served three terms on the Board of Directors for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
Member of the following Committee(s):
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Issues raised relating to the Transport Canada portfolio:
- Competition in the airline sector
- Impact of sanctions imposed on Russia on the Canadian agricultural sector
- Approval process for project funding
- Public health measures imposed due to COVID-19
Dan Muys
Political affiliation: Conservative Party of Canada
Constituency: Flamborough – Glanbrook, Ontario
MP Muys grew up near Hamilton, Ontario. In his professional career, MP Muys has worked in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. He was first elected in the 2021 federal election.
In his first speech, MP Muys identified several issues of concern. Among these issues, he specifically noted that three issues are impact the people in his riding, including the cost of living, the Government's plan for the economic recovery after the pandemic and access to a reliable internet connection.
Member of the following Committee(s):
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Issues raised relating to the Transport Canada portfolio:
- Relationship between municipalities and railway companies
- Fatigue management in the railway sector
- Supply chain resilience
- Shortsea shipping
- Price competition in the airline sector
Xavier Barsalou Duval
Political affiliation: Bloc Québécois
Constituency: Pierre-Boucher – Les Patriotes – Verchères, Quebec
Bloc Critic for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Mr. Barsalou Duval was first elected on . He has a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor's Degree in accounting. Prior to his political career, he taught accounting at the college level and working several years in Cabinet as the accounting auditor. Mr. Barsalou Duval has been highly implicated in his local Bloc Québecois and Parti Québecois riding associations since he was eighteen years old. He thereafter became President of the Forum Jeunesse of the Bloc Québecois, a position he held from 2012 to 2015. In his career, he has also been very active in the Mouvement Montréal français and in the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal.
During the 42nd Parliament, MP Barsalou Duval was the critic for the Economic Development, Government Operations, National Revenue and Public Accounts. In the aftermath of the 43rd Canadian federal election, MP Barsalou Duval was appointed as parliamentary critic for the transport, infrastructure and communities portfolio.
Member of the following Committee(s):
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
TC-related topics raised during the 42nd Parliament:
- Rail disaster at Lac-Mégantic in 2013
- Safety Management System regulations
- Amendments to the List of Prohibited Items on aircrafts
- Shoreline Protection Program
TC-related topics raised since the 43rd Canadian general election:
- Opposition to the idea of an "energy corridor" and the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion
- Electrification of the transportation sector
- Opposition to Air Canada's proposal to acquire Air Transat
Taylor Bachrach
Political affiliation: New Democratic Party of Canada
Constituency: Skeena – Bulkley Valley, British Columbia
NDP Critic for Infrastructure and Communities
In 2008, Mr. Bachrach was elected to the Telkwa Town Council. After moving to Smithers in 2011, he was elected mayor and thereafter won re-election twice.
Mr. Bachrach was first elected to the House of Commons in the 43rd Canadian general election.
Outside of his political life, Mr. Bachrach is the owner of Bachrach Communications, a media consultancy firm in Smithers. Since 2018, he has also served as the President of the Go By Bike BC organization, a cycling advocacy group.
Member of the following Committee(s):
Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
TC-related topics raised since the 43rd Canadian general election:
- Environmental policy
- Importance of rivers in the northwest (Statement on World Rivers Day)
- Enshrining UNDRIP into federal law
- Supportive of EV fast charging infrastructure
TC-related topics raised during his career:
- Modernization of the Smithers Airport Terminal
- Bus service connecting communities along the Highway of Tears
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