News
Atlantic airports want Ottawa to beef up Canada Border Services resources
The Atlantic Canada Airports Association is calling on Ottawa to beef
up the Canada Border Services Agency so air service to international
destinations is not lost.
September 19, 2007 By Carey Fredericks
DEER LAKE, N.L. (CP) _ The Atlantic Canada Airports Association is calling on Ottawa to beef up the Canada Border Services Agency so air service to international destinations is not lost.
An application to have customs and immigration services to cover a twice-weekly international charter flight at Deer Lake, N.L., was partially turned down.
Border services said it would provide agents for only one of the two scheduled flights.
The second request, to designate Deer Lake as an airport of entry in the country, is still in the works.
An official with the regional airports association, Patricia Devine, is troubled by what she calls a continuing lack of adequate border services resources.
She says the shortage has become critical.
Association president and Moncton, N.B., airport CEO Rob Robichaud feels the federal government is standing in the way of economic progress.
"International air service is directly related to business investment decisions and opportunities for economic growth," Robichaud says.
"We believe it is the role of government, including the federal government, to foster growth, not prevent it."
