What Carney's private investment plan could mean for major Canadian airports

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he wants private investors to take over operations at Canada’s four largest airports in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver, while the federal government keeps ownership of the land and core assets. He outlined the idea at a government investment summit in Toronto on Tuesday. The proposal would likely use concessionstyle agreements, similar to longterm leases, with Ottawa still setting rules for safety, service standards, passenger costs and employee management through Transport Canada. Supporters say the plan could help direct more federal spending toward smaller regional airports, though experts say the details would take time to negotiate and may require legal changes. The idea has drawn mixed reactions. Airport groups said they are open to investment that supports growth and affordability, while the NDP and Bloc Québécois warned privatization could raise costs for travellers. Some studies cited in the article suggest private operators can improve service and infrastructure, but often at higher prices for passengers.