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NDP Promote Petition for Judicial Inquiry

Submitted by dhc2widow on Fri, 10/16/2009 - 17:28
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On October 16th, NDP MP Peter Julian added a slightly altered version of our petition to his website.  PDF versions are available in English and French.

Link to English version.
Link to French version.

Note that various unions are also or will be circulating this version of the petition.   Read more...

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UCTE Announces: Transport Canada Ready to Listen!

Submitted by dhc2widow on Fri, 10/02/2009 - 18:09
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October 2, 2009

OTTAWA - Since Transport Canada first started implementing aviation Safety Management Systems (SMS), UCTE has been voicing grave concern that passenger safety in this country is at risk.  This week, Marc Grégoire Assistant Deputy Minister, Safety and Security met with UCTE National President, Christine Collins and National Vice-President Kerry Williams to announce that Transport Canada was ready to listen. Grégoire acknowledged that more dialogue was needed and that UCTE's support was important.   Read more...

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Question Period: After "The Fifth Estate"

Submitted by dhc2widow on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 17:27
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Air Safety News Conference

Following CBC's The Fifth Estate examination of air safety and security in Canada in "Riding on Risk", NDP Transport Critic Dennis Bevington once again raises the issue during Question Period in the House of Commons on September 28th.

Mr. Bevington first raised this issue during Question Period on April 22nd, following the April 21st Aviation Safety Round Table.  He raised the issue again in September 15th.

The text of the question and response can be found below.   Read more...

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Riding on Risk: CBC's Fifth Estate Explores Air Safety

Submitted by dhc2widow on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 13:59
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In its many years of bringing investigative reports to Canadians, the fifth estate has had its share of alarming stories. This season debuts with startling and disturbing allegations about the people we depend on to ensure our safety when we fly.   Read more...

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Whistleblowing Airline Employees BlogTalk Radio

Submitted by dhc2widow on Fri, 09/18/2009 - 19:13
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On September 18th, 2009, Kirsten Stevens and David Hutton appeared as guests on the US based Whistleblowing Airline Employees BlogTalk Radio Program.  Discussion was focused on improved Whistleblower legislation making its way through the US Senate.   Read more...

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Question Period: House of Commons

Submitted by dhc2widow on Tue, 09/15/2009 - 17:15
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During Question Period on September 15, 2009, NDP Transport Critic Mr. Dennis Bevington questioned the Federal Minister of Transport, Mr. John Baird, about an inquiry into Transport Canada's oversight of air safety.

Mr. Bevington first raised this issue during Question Period on April 22nd, following the April 21st Aviation Safety Round Table.

Here is the text of today's Question and Response.   Read more...

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Air Safety Probe Sought

Submitted by dhc2widow on Tue, 09/15/2009 - 11:26
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Opposition wants Auditor-General called in after inspectors warned of fictitious accounting inside department

By Bill Curry
Ottawa — From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
Last updated on Tuesday, Sep. 15, 2009 08:42AM EDT

Opposition MPs are calling on Auditor-General Sheila Fraser to investigate Transport Canada's air-safety practices after government inspectors warned of fictitious accounting inside the department.

Read more...
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Fox Shouldn't Guard Henhouse - A Tory Recipe for Disaster

Submitted by dhc2widow on Tue, 09/01/2009 - 18:01
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The following opinion piece and letter to the editor appeared in the Lethbridge Herald on August 24th and August 31st, respectively.

Fox shouldn’t guard henhouse

Written by Lethbridge Herald
Monday, 24 August 2009

The federal government is flying into stormy weather with its new plan to download enforcement of aviation safety standards onto the aviation industry itself.   Read more...

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Critics Say Transport Canada Ignoring Recommendations for Float-plane Safety

Submitted by dhc2widow on Sun, 08/30/2009 - 12:45
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Air Safety News Conference
Air Safety News Conference
Kirsten Stevens reflecting
on photo of husband Dave

By Terri Theodore (CP)
August 30, 2009

Link to video from The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Though he has climbed aboard small planes thousands of times, forestry worker Bob Pomponio always feared he was sitting on a flying gas tank that might one day cause trouble.

"Fire is the nature of the beast," Pomponio sighed matter-of-factly as he recalled the worst-case scenario that erupted around him last summer.

"It's not a happy thought."   Read more...

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New Rules for Aviation Safety a Flight Plan to Disaster, Critics Warn

Submitted by dhc2widow on Sun, 08/23/2009 - 13:24
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Air Safety News Conference
Air Safety News Conference
Justice Virgil Moshansky

Released by the Canadian Press on August 23, 2009

By Terri Theodore

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Proponents predict it will make air travel in Canada safer than ever. Critics call it a flight plan for disaster.   Read more...

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