Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday his government is open to selling public assets if the proceeds could help fund new infrastructure.
The November federal budget and April spring economic statement both mentioned exploring new ownership options for the country’s federally owned airports.
As first reported by the Toronto Star, a transport ministry discussion paper published last week on ports and trade suggests the government is also open to amalgamating “some key ports” while selling others.
“We’re very transparent about it. Are we looking in certain cases of, are there assets that the federal government has that we could recycle the investment into supporting building new assets? Airports is an example that is out there,” Carney said Thursday during a Parliament Hill press conference.
Get breaking National news
Carney said the port issue is part of a broader discussion paper which also looks at how port authorities are governed, how documentation about imports and exports is collected and ways to keep supply chains running smoothly.
The prime minister said he doesn’t view any sale of ports as a “top priority.”
“What we’re looking to do with all the tools we have is to catalyze building of this economy. If there are some assets that the federal government has that can help with that process, we’ll look at it as part of a comprehensive approach,” Carney said.
Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said on April 29, the day after the spring economic update was tabled, that the government is in the early stages of exploring sales of airports.
“They are a public good and I don’t think that spirit or that philosophy will change. Indeed, we want to make airports a better experience for Canadians. We want to air travel more generally, more fluid and better experience for Canadians while keeping it affordable,” MacKinnon said last month when asked about potential airport sales.
The minister added he wasn’t sure if a decision had been made on whether money from any airport sale would go toward financing the government’s $25 billion Canada Strong Fund, which was announced just before the spring economic update.
Selling airports, most likely to Americans, would really facilitate things if they wanted to invade Canada. Wouldn’t it. You can’t shut down an airport if you don’t own it. Dumb idea, Carney.
Here’s some facts. The airport authorities in Canada who operate on federal land pay Ottawa rent. It’s a lease. The feds no longer operate nor maintain the land / infrastructure. Passengers pay 109% of the costs incurred by an airport authoritiy. The airport authorities have a board which is accountable to no one in particular. Management reports to the board. The board decides how much passengers pay the airport authority via their ticket purchase when they depart every airport. It’s broken out on your ticket receipt. If Ottawa decides to sells the airport land, the question is to who? It would make sense that each airport authority would have right of first refusal on the purchase but that’s unknown. In any case, the airport authority will have to service its purchase interest and principal. Will that cost exceed the current rent payments? Probably…no , 100% it will have a higher cost. Who will pay the higher cost? Passengers of course! Will passengers own a share of the airport land and infrastructure. Of course not. I am waiting to hear from the airline council / associations and the airport councils on their response to this trial balloon news.
We wouldn’t have to consider selling anything if we weren’t dumping out a Billion dollars a week on interest payments after 10 years of the boy king’s incompetence.
As usual Goebbels news deleted my comment. Was it the Mark Mao Carnage comment or something else?
Carney is lying through his teeth. He wants to sell these so that Brookfield profits. Who do you think’s going to get these lease contracts?. This will have a direct kickback to him making him a billionaire in under 10 years. This is the biggest conflict of interest in Canada right now has this man as a PM making these decisions that directly make him massive amounts of money
Has carney asked the FN if this is ok?.
Everybody sing along…..”canada fell into a ring of fire. Down down down and the flames went higher”.
This is why Harper wouldn’t let him make decisions when he was at the BoC.
You do not even have to do math for this one. Why would a private company invest in an airport? to make money. If Canada runs airports to break even with the current fees, then those fees will go up. Thus the cost of store rental will go up, and thus prices (or empty sites). Thus the cost of airline tickets will go up. Presently Canada has one of the highest rates in the world. – Trying to be number 1???
Infrastructure…. LIKE AIRPORTS! Don’t do it man. People said be a bit conservative, not 100% conservative.
Start selling public assets and you’d lose my vote. When has this ever been a positive thing to have done….
Seems crazy to give away control of our major airports
Fire sale, Fire sale, come get your Canadian assets at fire sale prices because the Carney Liberals have maxed out our credit card and we desperately need money. What a message to send to the world and especially China which will for sure grab some our assets. Disgraceful by Carney and the Liberals.
Carney and this Liberal government is looking for money so if they are selling stuff then Air Canada and the CBC should be the first to go. These 2 companies take a lot of taxpayer money every year and the service is terrible.
I held my nose and voted Liberal last election but this is such a bad bad look jeez
Might as well make flying anywhere unaffordable like everything else in this country. Alberta, strong & free!
Well we are selling Canadian companies, pipelines, mines, land and other resources to foreigners to try and keep Canada afoat financially so may as well sell off the airports also.
This is a recipe for disaster. How about stop funding overseas “adventures” such as giving Canadian Tax payer money to criminal states like Ukraine and others? Let the private citizens assist in such matters. The “government” should be putting Tax-payer money into the Canadian economy only!