National Airports Policy (Canada)
Encyclopedia
The National Airports Policy is a program of the Government of Canada
involving the privatization or private operation of nearly all of the country's airport
s that was commenced during the 1990s.
The policy continues to be controversial in Canada because of greatly increased airport fees that have resulted and the ongoing inability of airports to meet infrastructure requirements. For example, the fees charged to carriers and general aviation
by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority
at Toronto Pearson International Airport
are amongst the highest in the world.
The Liberal Transport Minister who oversaw the creation of the policy, Doug Young, was later quoted as saying it was the worst decision of his career and that he regretted its implementation.
Canada also privatized its air traffic control
and air navigation
systems, placing them under the control of a private company NAV CANADA
.
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
involving the privatization or private operation of nearly all of the country's airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
s that was commenced during the 1990s.
The policy continues to be controversial in Canada because of greatly increased airport fees that have resulted and the ongoing inability of airports to meet infrastructure requirements. For example, the fees charged to carriers and general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority
Greater Toronto Airports Authority
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority operates Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The GTAA operates Canada's largest airport facility with a traffic of 31.0 million passengers in 2006. The authority's headquarters are on the airport...
at Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
are amongst the highest in the world.
The Liberal Transport Minister who oversaw the creation of the policy, Doug Young, was later quoted as saying it was the worst decision of his career and that he regretted its implementation.
Canada also privatized its air traffic control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
and air navigation
Air navigation
The basic principles of air navigation are identical to general navigation, which includes the process of planning, recording, and controlling the movement of a craft from one place to another....
systems, placing them under the control of a private company NAV CANADA
NAV CANADA
Nav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system .The company employs approximately 2,000 air traffic controllers , 800 flight service specialists and 700 technologists...
.