Canada and Control of Aviation The Canadian Government is to
be congratulated on the lead it has given to the nations in preparing proposals for the regulation of civil aviation both within Canada and for the world. Last week Mr. C. D. Howe, Canadian Minister of Munitions and Supply, tabled in Parliament the text of a proposed International Air Trans- port Convention and made a statement ekplaining the Government's views. Canada is to ask for the creation of a world air transport assembly with a board of twelve members, the assembly being responsible for drafting regulations which all members would be required to adopt and enforce. In addition, there would be regional councils of from six to nine members which would have power to grant operating licences , to applicants approved by their own country. Two or more countries could pool their services if they wished to do so, an arrangement which would admit of the closest co-operation between members of the British Commonwealth. The supreme aim of the world air authority would be to ensure a fair division of air routes and services among the signatories, and by its control of aviation to contribute to a system of general security. The principles of the right of innocent passage and re-fuelling are assumed. It will be noted that for internal regulation the Canadian Government fully recognises the necessity of establishing a separate authority for dealing with civil aviation, and proposes to set up a federal -Air Transport Board which would concern itself solely with air traffic. In this country, too, the House of Commons has indicated its desire for the separation of the control of civil 'aviation from the Air Ministry In this well-thought-out and comprehensive scheme the Canadian Government has clearly set before itself the two-fold aim of affording the maximum opportunity for national enterprise along with international control designed to secure safety, to eliminate wasteful competition, and encourage co-operation. It will afford a valuable basis of discussion at the international aviation discussions in Washington.
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