Let’s talk about competitiveness. After a global pandemic and years of slow economic growth, Canadian policymakers of all stripes are looking for solutions to kickstart competitiveness in our country’s major economic sectors. When it comes to air travel, they don’t need to look far. Government has an important role to play.
00 per passenger in Canada versus approximately $6.14 per passenger in the U.S. It’s not hard to see why Canada’s airlines and passengers are at a disadvantage. Our airports currently pay over $400-million more to the federal government in rent payments for Crown land than they receive in infrastructure support. That is rent not paid in countries like the United States. On average, Canada’s airports spend 12 per cent of their revenues on federal rent payments.