Canada weighs airport privatization to fund upgrades

Canada’s federal government is considering whether to privatize major airports as part of a broader review of public assets and infrastructure financing. The idea, mentioned in the spring economic update, is still at an early stage and would likely require new legislation before any formal evaluation could move forward. The federal government owns about two dozen large airports, including hubs in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Calgary, but leases them to nonprofit airport authorities that run daytoday operations. Supporters of privatization say it could attract investment and help pay for costly upgrades, especially as airport infrastructure needs grow. Critics caution that selling or transferring airports to private owners could increase costs for airlines and passengers if regulation is too weak. The article points to Australia as an example where privatization was followed by higher fees, and notes that any Canadian plan would likely need strong oversight to limit price increases.