Canadian minister seeks views on U.S./Canada aviation agreement

Canadian minister seeks views on U.S./Canada aviation agreement    Canada’s transport minister Jean-C. Lapierre released Thursday a consultation document seeking Canadian stakeholder views on ways to further liberalize the 1995 Air Transport Agreement between Canada and the U.S., as well as on the long-term direction of the air transport relationship between the two countries.
   “For the Government of Canada, the goal of air liberalization is to encourage the development of new markets, new services, lower prices and greater competition to the benefit of Canadians, while ensuring a strong and vibrant air transport industry,” Lapierre said.
   The document asks 27 questions for consideration, including asking the benefits of fifth-freedom rights for passenger and all-cargo operations, the right for all-cargo carriers to serve points in the other country on a co-terminal basis, as well as seventh freedom rights, allowing airlines to perform international cargo operations without a connection to their homeland.
   In February, Lapierre and U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta met in Ottawa at an aviation conference and issued a joint statement saying the two countries would soon begin framework negotiations for talks on eliminating remaining economic restrictions on airlines.
   Transport Canada estimates the Canada-U.S. air transportation market at 18.6 million passengers.
   The consultation document can be found at Transport Canada’s air policy Web site at https://www.tc.gc.ca/pol/en/airpolicy/consultations/menu.htm .