Because the practice of air and transportation law in Manitoba has diminished significantly since the economic de‐regulation of most modes of transport, the Air & Transportation Law Section of the Manitoba Bar Association has been largely dormant. However, the Chair remains available as a resource in the event that issues or opportunities arise that the MBA wants to consider becoming involved in.
One example is the adoption by Manitoba of legislation to bring the Cape Town Convention into force in our province. Cape Town provides an International Registry to record leases and security interests in certain aircraft and aircraft engines. Canada and most other provinces have passed the needed legislation, but Manitoba has lagged behind ‐ to the possible prejudice of aircraft operators in Manitoba and the customers they service. MBA has voiced its support to get Cape Town passed here and I am currently meeting with provincial representatives to that end.
As Provincial Chair, I also sit on the National Executive of the Canadian Bar Association Air and Space Law Section.
At the National level, the Air & Space Law section meets annually with Justice/Transport Canada/regulatory agency legal counsel, provides submissions on relevant Federal Legislation, provides materials for the CBA Section Web pages and corroborates with ABA Forum on Air & Space Law on its conferences held in conjunction with the McGill Institute of Air and Space Law.
Respectively submitted,
Joe Barnsley, Chair