A Charlottetown senator wants to know more about the motives behind Air Canada's decision to cut service to P.E.I. and other small markets.

Percy Downe has introduced a notice of inquiry in the Senate designed to examine what he describes as the decreasing quality and quantity of air passenger service, especially at the hands of Air Canada.

"My inquiry will examine the current, government-imposed operating requirements on Air Canada and the responsibility and opportunity for the Government of Canada to impose additional conditions on Air Canada so all Canadians can enjoy reasonably comparable levels of air service at reasonably comparable levels of cost, no matter where they live," Downe said from Ottawa.

"It is entirely within the power of the federal government to impose service and operating conditions on Air Canada."

Air Canada cut service to P.E.I. after the province signed a deal with its competitor, WestJet. Air Canada no longer has a year- round direct flight to Toronto and continues to fly smaller planes into the provincial capital city.

Downe said the federal government has placed conditions on Air Canada in the past.

When Air Canada was privatized in 1988, Downe said, the federal government required the airline to keep its head office in Montreal and maintain operation centres in Winnipeg, Mississauga and Montreal.

The debate is expected to take place in the Senate in mid-November. The senator said the problems are not unique to P.E.I. All of Atlantic Canada is suffering.