* Charts based on the $2,35 billion in Federal Airport Rents collected since the transfer to Local Airport Authorities in 1992 to the end of  2005 (YYZ = 1,142,983,000 YVR = 198,339,000 YUL = 764,438,000.)

In April 1997 the government of Canada issued A Future Framework for the Management of Airports in Canada in which is announced its airport transfer policy.  In this policy statement the Government changed its role from operator to landlord of Canada’s major airports while continuing its role as policy maker and regulator. 

National Airports Policy In 1994, the Government of Canada introduced the National Airports Policy (NAP) which defined the National Airports System (NAS), a core network of 26 airports that account for almost 95% of the total passenger traffic at Canadian airports. Airports transferred under the NAP were transferred to Canadian Airport Authorities (CAAs) which were subject to a revised rent formulae.

Gateways to the world – YYZ, YVR and YUL are our gateways to the world.  These cities are essential to trade, finance, tourism and convention activities in Canada.  The competitiveness of their airports should be of paramount importance to the federal government.

World’s Most Expensive Airport - With recent reforms to Tokyo Narita Airport's pricing methodology Toronto Pearson airport is at risk of becoming the most expensive airport in the world, a function of the rent payments due to the federal government.

Its Not Really Rent – The federal government provides no landlord services in exchange for the "rents" paid.  Maintenance and administration falls to local airport authorities. Put simply, airport rents are a tax on investment.

Click here to see how much airport rent Canada’s top 3 airports have already paid.

Source: Survey of CAC Members