Suggested Responses
- Budget 2025 and the Spring Economic Update 2026 set a clear direction to unlock airport value and attract private investment by modernizing airports to lower costs for travellers and support long-term growth.
- The Government is exploring options to maximize airport value, including alternative ownership models.
- New legislative authorities will ensure access to critical data to support evidence-based decisions on future reforms.
- This work is advancing in close partnership with airport authorities, airlines, and local communities.
If Pressed on Airport Information Provision
- The information provision measure will allow the Minister to request relevant data to support transportation policy development, including financial, operational, and planning information.
- Most airports operate with limited disclosure obligations; this measure ensures the Government can access the data needed to assess airport value and policy options.
- Requests would be tailored and could apply to airport operators as well as related entities such as airlines, contractors, and tenants.
Background Information
Budget 2025 announced the Government’s intent to unlock additional economic potential from Canada’s airports and explore new approaches to attract private investment. This includes negotiating lease extensions with National Airports System authorities, enabling increased economic development on airport lands, reviewing ground lease formulas, and considering airport privatization.
The Spring Economic Update 2026 reaffirmed these commitments and introduced plans for legislation to support comprehensive assessment of airport reforms through enhanced information collection powers.
Currently, most major Canadian airports are operated by private, not-for-profit airport authorities or other public entities with limited obligations to disclose information to the federal government. The proposed legislative measure would authorize the Minister of Transport to require disclosure of relevant data from airport owners, operators, and related stakeholders.
Information that may be requested includes financial data, passenger forecasts, capital and business plans, contractual arrangements, asset condition, and financing details. The measure could apply broadly to entities whose activities impact airport value, including airlines, concessionaires, contractors, and lenders.
The Government is also examining whether alternative ownership models, including for-profit structures, could enhance airports’ ability to attract investment and support long-term growth. No decisions have been made on privatization, governance changes, or rent reforms.
Other related work includes advancing airport lease extensions to support long-term investment, reviewing airport rent frameworks, and exploring governance reforms to improve responsiveness to user needs and strengthen investment attraction.