SHOW UP, STAND UP AND BE COUNTED.

CBAA is your voice and resource in Ottawa.  Your membership builds and supports a strong and professional association that fights for you, represents you and is essential to your daily operations and to your future.

There is another side to this coin –strong associations are fundamentally important to government as well.  Government must consult with stakeholders continuously – on regulations, on policies, and more.  Then it must balance different stakeholder needs with dozens of other factors, and come up with a direction that is defensible.  It is little wonder that the wheels of government grind so slowly.

The only way this works at all is because national associations build industry-wide positions, offering government a clear and united voice on the issue of the day.  The clearer the message and the more united the voice, the better it will be heard.

Since CBAA shifted to a trade association and advocacy model in April of this year, we have increased our lobbying and industry-outreach exponentially – working to build consensus, identify issues and ensure that we speak on behalf of all members of the business aviation community, large or small.

This is no small thing – there are approximately 5,000 registered lobbyists in Canada, and some 70,000 associations.  They are all jockeying for something – and of all of these, only the CBAA that speaks for you.

• Here are a few of the things we have been able to accomplish since April.
• We have ensured that CBSA will clear bizav passenger loads of up to 30 people at Pearson, and now will clear FBOs at Quebec City;
• We have launched a major awareness and advocacy campaign, Business Aviation Works! to explain  the importance of business aviation in every region of the country, and to build support across Canada;
• The government of Canada and CBAA will be working together to promote Canadian business aviation internationally through the Global Opportunities for Associations program;
• CBAA launched its new logo and website;
• CBAA 2011, the 50th anniversary celebration held in Calgary, AB was a huge success thanks to our many exhibitors, attendees, sponsors and volunteers.

CBAA makes sure that your needs are counted wherever and whenever it matters. We participate on a range of committees and groups that decide where aviation will go: from safety, to security, to taxes and fees, environment to border issues and more.  Every time government makes a move that affects business aviation, CBAA is there.  We do not win all the fights, but we fight all the ones that matter to you.

CBAA adds value to your bottom line, and we rely on your support to increase our ability to achieve on your behalf.  Working together, we can stand up and be counted.

Sam Barone
President and CEO