Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

NUNAVUT
The airline contracted to medevac patients out of the Kitikmeot does not currently own any planes or hold an air operator certificate, revelations which caused Rankin Inlet North MLA Tagak Curley to question the logic in awarding Aqsaqniq Airways Ltd. the contract.

The Taloyoak-based airline was awarded the medevac contract, valued at $5 million annually, for the Kitikmeot region over the next five years, beginning Dec. 1, 2011. Aqsaqniq is partnered with Yellowknife-based Discovery Air's subsidiary Air Tindi.

Curley said last week in the legislature Aqsaqniq is "simply a registered company" that has a business relationship with Air Tindi and does not own a single aircraft. He added Aqsaqniq has subcontracted the actual flying to Air Tindi.

Jason Campbell, a spokesman with Transport Canada, confirmed via e-mail that Aqsaqniq Airways Ltd. does not own any aircraft and currently does not hold an air operator certificate.

On Feb. 28, Curley asked Community and Government Services Minister Lorne Kusugak why he is not ensuring companies signing contracts with the government hold an air operator's licence.

Cambridge Bay MLA and Health and Social Services Minister Keith Peterson remarked Curley was health and social services minister when the medevac contract was awarded.

Peterson further noted Curley told the legislature last October that a change of service providers would not change the quality of service.

"The former minister of Health had no issues with safety when he was the minister," said Peterson at the legislature on Feb. 27. "I do not know why he has a concern now as a regular member."

Curley resigned from cabinet at the end of November.

According to Peterson, under the conditions of the request for proposals Aqsaqniq has to put a Learjet in Cambridge Bay with a hangar and two backup King Airs in Yellowknife.

Nattilik MLA Jeannie Ugyuk asked on Feb. 27 whether the company had a Learjet, Peterson responded the plane is in Ontario, waiting to be repositioned in Cambridge Bay "at some point."

Before Aqsaqniq was awarded the contract, Cambridge Bay-based Adlair Aviation Ltd. had operated medevac services in the Kitikmeot for some 20 years.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.