Transport Minister Marc Garneu

[Panama Jack]

Read this article today and just had to give my head a shake over what seems to be another act of populist stunting by the Transport Minister on thr wake of the United Airlines matter:

http://www.citynews.ca/2017/04/13/appal ... a-garneau/

I had very similar reactions when the Minister made statements on alcohol testing following the publicised drunk pilot incident in Calgary.

There was a lot of hope expressed following the Liberals nominating a former Astronaught to direct Transportation in Canada, but from a distance I see very little concrete evidence of any changes or improvements.

Just what positive government policies or actions have been made by the Trudeau government to benefit the development or sustainability of Canada's aviation system?

[goingnowherefast]

None! This is what I can remember:
- Blocked Porter's jet expansion plan
- knee jerk reaction to a pilot getting caught, when he showed up drunk, causing no reduction in safety
- knee jerk reaction to an airline customer service issue in a foreign country.

Flight and duty times issue? Silence
TFW issue, when there's lots of qualified pilot? Nothing
Infrastructure projects to improve airport services, aka, more CAT II approaches and further LPV development? Nadda
Increased oversight/TC Inspector shortage? Nope
TSB could use some help too? Ignored

I guess they did invest in Bombardier CSeries, but that wasn't Marc Garneau, that was Trudeau.

I'm sure there's more too, this is just what I could come up with quickly.

[Heliian]

Don't forget the cash grab UAS regs that were pushed through.

Really though, experience in space does not make one an expert in civil aviation. At this point, he's a politician trying to make a name for himself by creating "savings" in his department. He's going to "save" us into a really dismal future of civil aviation.

[Old fella]

I think it's a good idea to clamp down on this over the top airline activity(over booking/over sold). How, of course is the big question but something has to give. Myself and members of the travel/flying public contrary to popular opinion understand delays/cancellations are inevitable be it weather,mechanical,operational,security issues. We get that, but trying to stuff 180 asses into a 160 ass airplane hoping some won't show will not cut it.

[Taxivasion]

I never gave him a chance... He can't be too bright, he's a Liberal.

[Flypilot]

I never gave him a chance... He can't be too bright, he's a Liberal.

Haha

[atphat]

None! This is what I can remember:
- Blocked Porter's jet expansion plan
- knee jerk reaction to a pilot getting caught, when he showed up drunk, causing no reduction in safety
- knee jerk reaction to an airline customer service issue in a foreign country.

Flight and duty times issue? Silence
TFW issue, when there's lots of qualified pilot? Nothing
Infrastructure projects to improve airport services, aka, more CAT II approaches and further LPV development? Nadda
Increased oversight/TC Inspector shortage? Nope
TSB could use some help too? Ignored

I guess they did invest in Bombardier CSeries, but that wasn't Marc Garneau, that was Trudeau.

I'm sure there's more too, this is just what I could come up with quickly.

+1. He's a joke.

[bobcaygeon]

Garneau came from the Navy before he became an astronaut. He's not like Chris Hadfield who came with an air force background.
Now he is a politician doing what politicians are expected to do, keep the masses happy so he gets re-elected.

The flight and duty time regs are progressing as planned and following the required steps pretty much on schedule. They have to put everything through the regulatory process (Gazette's) just like everyone else. I'd rather they do it right and make the CARs clear and less open to interpretation for the operators, flight crew, and the TC inspectors.

[confusedalot]

[quote="bobcaygeon"]
Now he is a politician doing what politicians are expected to do, keep the masses happy so he gets re-elected.

Just about on the money. Some things just do not change.

[DanWEC]

I agree when it comes to missing the mark on issues that truly affect both the safety and prosperity of aviation. So instead of just shaking our heads, where's the accountability? What can be done?

[goingnowherefast]

Garneau came from the Navy before he became an astronaut. He's not like Chris Hadfield who came with an air force background.
Now he is a politician doing what politicians are expected to do, keep the masses happy so he gets re-elected.

We do expect him to keep the masses happy, but we're disappointed in his poorly planned "solutions". We expected better reactions because of his background. His behaviour is the same as a politician who hasn't even driven a car.

Find a drunk stumbling into the plane? Maybe the solution can be a simple speech: "unfortunate incident, yadda yadda, I am happy to see the safety nets we currently have in place worked as they are designed". Same with the United customer service issue issue. Make a speech about how Canada is a better country, make people feel good and do nothing.

[7ECA]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... Is he any worse, or less competent than our previous Minister of Transport Lisa "Flatt" Raitt?

Not that that should be of any comfort to anyone, but it is the bar on which one can measure performance.

[Old fella]

Some seem to forget or ignorant of the fact(take your pick) that aviation is just one of the four modes(Air,Marine,Rail,Road) a Transport Minister is responsible for. The Country's Transport infrastructure/systems doesn't revolve around aviation nor should it.

[goingnowherefast]

I think we all expected a slight amount of favouritism from Marc Garneau, especially given his past.
We expected better than his predecessor because he wasn't a career politician.

I don't think he is worse than any other Transport Minister, but we also had higher expectations.

[av8ts]

Definitely not worse than Lisa the Rat

[rookiepilot]

Some seem to forget or ignorant of the fact(take your pick) that aviation is just one of the four modes(Air,Marine,Rail,Road) a Transport Minister is responsible for. The Country's Transport infrastructure/systems doesn't revolve around aviation nor should it.

Yep.

I'd also love to meet one typical critic with a fraction of the responsibility of a cabinet minister.

Everyone wants to criticize. No one would think of giving up their family, free time, and good career to run for office.

Not all are bad, IMO

Just saying......

[KenoraPilot]

Worst ministers always end up as TC ministers

[confusedalot]

Ya know, that just may be a valid comment.

Never was a politician, but I had the unfortunate experience of being a public servant (no jobs around after 9/11 and company bankruptcy)

It appears to be a self serving system, suspect that the elected ones jockey for the best positions after election. Office politics taken to the maximum.

[Mr. North]

Lisa Raitt was an anti labour, cost cutting conservative yet airport taxes continued to rise under her watch. The fact that she's even running for leader of the cons is enough evidence for me that the Harper conservatives are alive and well, despite the bludgeoning they received in the last election. As much as I'd like a real contender to face Trudeau, maybe the conservatives need another licking to clean out their ranks.

Garneau is a muppet.

I have a hard time figuring out who is worse. Someone with an agenda I don't agree with, or another who does nothing but pander to the whims of the latest public outrage.

[Vickers vanguard]

I never gave him a chance... He can't be too bright, he's a Liberal.

Haha

The conservatives under Mr Harper were much better in pretty much every aspect. The only thing I hated with the cons, was Mr Harper's foreign policy which was a disaster in my opinion. But the liberals today are not that much better in that aspect either. As for the Bombardier thing, 370 millions......not much compared to Quebec investment and very late too.

[armchair]

Garneau came from the Navy before he became an astronaut. He's not like Chris Hadfield who came with an air force background.
Now he is a politician doing what politicians are expected to do, keep the masses happy so he gets re-elected.

If Hadfield is smart - which he is - he will never run for office and its trappings. He would be a shoe-in of course, but his legacy is better served by remaining a hero, as Marc Garneau once was. The fishead should have known better!

[Kejidog]

C'mon. It's leadership by focus group. We just love the touchy feely initiatives don't it make you all feel better that canada's back or some other millennial vapid statement?

[B208]

Some seem to forget or ignorant of the fact(take your pick) that aviation is just one of the four modes(Air,Marine,Rail,Road) a Transport Minister is responsible for. The Country's Transport infrastructure/systems doesn't revolve around aviation nor should it.

What spectacular things has Mr. Garneau done for the other modes?

[55+]

Some seem to forget or ignorant of the fact(take your pick) that aviation is just one of the four modes(Air,Marine,Rail,Road) a Transport Minister is responsible for. The Country's Transport infrastructure/systems doesn't revolve around aviation nor should it.

Yep.

I'd also love to meet one typical critic with a fraction of the responsibility of a cabinet minister.

Everyone wants to criticize. No one would think of giving up their family, free time, and good career to run for office.

Not all are bad, IMO

Just saying......

Had the opportunity to hear him(Garneau) speak some time ago. Accomplished and competent person as I see it

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Garneau

[pelmet]

Unfortunately not an accomplished politician. Incompetent. We saw that on the airports threatened by windmills issue. A simple "Build windmills if you want in our giant countryside but not in a way that shuts down our airports would have been a sign of competence. He is incompetent.