News
COPA welcomes new minister Raitt to post
July 18, 2013, Ottawa - The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association welcomes Lisa Raitt on her appointment as the federal Minister of Transport. Prior to this appointment, she served as Minister of Natural Resources and, most recently, as Minister of Labour.
July 18, 2013 By Carey Fredericks
We are also pleased that the Transportation portfolio has been returned to a stand-a-lone position. The previous Minister was triple hatted with Transport, Infrastructure and Communities occupying his time.
Minister Raitt’s connection to aviation is seen as a plus for our Association. She was President and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority, operator of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and she has been quoted recently, as MP for the Halton Region of Ontario, concerning airport development at the Burlington Airpark. This exposure to our sector of aviation provides background experience for her new position.
“Returning to a dedicated Minister for transportation and one who has aviation in her background, including some exposure to the issues and opportunities facing Personal and General Aviation, is a significant step forward for Personal Aviation,” said COPA President and CEO Kevin Psutka.
“In addition, our sector is facing several issues in the Greater Toronto Area, where her riding is located, so we hope to gain some priority, under her leadership, for PA in the GTA. We will ask for a meeting with Minister Raitt at her earliest opportunity to brief her on our sector of aviation and to set the stage for working with her in advancing COPA’s mission statement, which is to protect Personal Aviation and promote it as a valued, integral and sustainable part of the Canadian Community.”
Personal Aviation is that sector of General Aviation where aircraft are flown for personal transportation and recreation. It is by far the largest sector of aviation, in terms of number of aircraft and pilots, of all aviation sectors in Canada.
The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association, formed in 1952, is the largest of all aviation Associations in Canada in terms of number of members.
