Privatizing airports will increase costs, says NDP Leader Lewis

NDP Leader Avi Lewis criticized the Canadian government's plan to allow private investors to bid on operational stakes at Canada’s four largest airports – Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver. Outside the House of Commons, flanked by his caucus and labour leaders, Lewis claimed this move amounts to privatization and will likely lead to higher traveller fees. The NDP argues that despite government assurances about maintaining land ownership and regulatory oversight, allowing private control over airport operations for decades is essentially a form of privatization. Ottawa maintains it would still own the airports' land and ensure safety regulations are followed while reinvesting potential profits from contracts into smaller regional airports to lower their fees. NDP transport critic Heather McPherson noted that the government already earns about $525 million annually from existing airport operations, suggesting this revenue could instead be used to support regional hubs without privatization.