A House of Commons committee will investigate Canada’s pilot shortage and report back to Parliament by next June.
In a rare move, the Commons gave unanimous support to Kelowna MP Stephen Fuhr’s private member’s bill to initiate the study. The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities will study the shortage.
Fuhr introduced the bill (M-177) last April and it was debated in October and November. To pass, private member’s bills must receive unanimous support so their passage is rare. Fuhr said the issue is of national importance and deserves Parliament’s attention.
“Our country’s economic prosperity will be highly influenced by the health and well-being of the Canadian aviation sector, and it is my hope that by studying the issue, the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities will be able to determine the most effective way to support our Canadian flight schools and pilot production in Canada,” Fuhr said.
Fuhr said up to 10,000 new pilots need to be trained and transitioned into the system by 2025 and current estimates are that the industry will fall 3,000 pilots short.
“Some of the biggest challenges to pilot production in Canada are the high cost of training for new commercial pilots, the low starting salaries, and an industry that has evolved a non-linear career path.”
The MP said failure to address the issue could have big consequences for all sectors of the Canadian economy.
“Our country’s economic prosperity will be highly influenced by the health and well-being of the Canadian aviation sector, and it is my hope that by studying the issue, the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities will be able to determine the most effective way to support our Canadian flight schools and pilot production in Canada,” Fuhr said.