The voice of Canada’s airports.
Monday, March 19, 2007 -
OTTAWA (March
19, 2007) – The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) today expressed disappointment
that the Conservative government’s second federal budget has failed to address
the issue of airport rent.
“The rent omission represents a forgotten
election campaign questionnaire pledge from the Conservatives to lower the fee
and tax burden on Canada’s
aviation sector,” said CAC President and CEO Jim Facette.“For a budget that implements major elements
of ‘Advantage Canada,’ airport
rent continues to be a disadvantage for Canada’s airports and the
communities they serve.”
In November 2005, the current prime
minister while in opposition said, “When will the Prime Minister show some
leadership, stop punishing Toronto and lower
ground fees at Pearson
Airport.”This budget does nothing to alleviate the ongoing
problem impacting Canada’s
National Airports System airports. Mr. Harper’s call was echoed in the fall of
2005 by several Conservatives.
The CAC acknowledges the positive impact
anticipated from the budget’s Foreign Convention and Tour Incentive Program
incentives and increase in the travellers’ 48-hour duty/tax free
exemption.The airport industry also welcomes
a principles-based legislative framework to guide federal regulatory
departments.
The CAC is supportive of this government’s
ongoing efforts to invest in an efficient transportation network and hope the
new $8.8 billion Building Canada fund will provide an opportunity for infrastructure
projects at Canada’s
smaller airports.
About
the Canadian Airports Council
The Canadian Airports Council (CAC) is the voice for Canada’s airports.Its 43 members encompass more than 120 airports, including all of the National Airports System (NAS) airports and most significant municipal airports in every province and territory. Together, CAC members handle virtually all of the nation’s air cargo and international passenger traffic and 95% of domestic passenger traffic.They create well in excess of $30 billion in economic activity in the communities they serve.And more than 150,000 jobs are directly associated with CAC member airports, generating a payroll of more than $8 billion annually.
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