Hon. Duncan Wilson: My question is for Senator Moreau.

Senator Moreau, my question deals with the Trail Regional Airport, which serves the West Kootenay region of B.C. and roughly 30,000 passengers a year. This airport is served by Pacific Coastal Airlines and B.C. Health Services medevac flights.

Currently, the Trail Regional Airport has five runways; only one — from the south — is a straight-in approach. This approach is critical for aircraft during inclement weather in the fall and winter months.

However, recent changes made to Transport Canada’s final approach protocols have resulted in that straight-in runway being shut down, as the new criteria have flagged a concern due to a mountain to the south of the airport in the United States. This change will severely impact Pacific Coastal Airlines and the region’s medevac services, as their pilots will now be forced to circle during poor weather conditions.

Airport officials, along with its primary users, are seeking an exemption from Transport Canada to these protocol changes to assure uncompromised service for the region’s population.

Senator Moreau, can you indicate if this exemption will be something supported by the government?

Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for the question. I have been told that Transport Canada is well aware of the concerns raised about the change in the final approach protocols at Trail Regional Airport.

As approach designs are a complex process, I can inform you that the department is working with NAV CANADA as part of its periodic review. During this review, one of five approaches to the Trail Airport is currently unavailable to operators — the one you mentioned earlier.

However, this is not a permanent runway closure. Transport Canada strictly regulates final approach protocols by defining clear stabilized approach criteria and mandatory approach bans to eliminate the loss of clearance.

I have been told that it is a temporary situation and that they are working on a solution for the straight approach.