You were appointed Canada’s Minister of Transport during last year’s major cabinet reshuffle. What’s your vision for the future of the aviation industry in Canada?
Canada’s aviation and aerospace sector is vital for connecting our vast and diverse nation. We are proud to host the International Civil Aviation Organization and are committed to working with international partners on advancing safety and security, as well as seeking justice for the families and victims of flight PS752. The pandemic significantly impacted the aviation sector, with passenger volumes in Canada dropping by 90% for over a year. However, we’ve seen a strong recovery since spring 2022, which brought its own challenges as demand surged.
Our government supports new and emerging aviation technologies such as drones, electric aircraft, and flight automation. Transport Canada works closely with partners on research, regulatory harmonization, and developing domestic regulations to keep the sector safe, secure, and innovative.
Our Aviation Climate Action Plan lays out our goal for net-zero emissions by 2050, focusing on both domestic and international aviation efforts. The future of Canada's aviation sector holds exciting possibilities, and our investments aim to make air travel more environmentally friendly, affordable, and accessible for Canadians.
The government has received criticism for not prioritizing aviation over other modes of transport - where does aviation rank on your list of current priorities?
Canada’s transportation system has expanded to handle more passengers and increasing trade volumes. Aviation plays a crucial role in remote and northern communities where it’s essential for moving people and goods. In such a vast country, all modes of transportation—air, rail, marine, and road—must work together, and aviation remains a critical part of this system.
Many Canadians want affordable air travel to visit family or explore other parts of the country. We are seeing competition grow among airlines like Porter and Air Transat, which challenges the dominance of larger players like Air Canada and WestJet. The market for low-cost carriers is expanding, and we look forward to more innovation and collaboration in the sector.
Foreign ownership regulations mean a limited number of airlines dominate Canada’s aviation market. Are there plans to reassess competition law to make aviation more affordable and accessible for everyday Canadians?
Canada's vast distances and challenging weather conditions set it apart from the U.S. or Europe in terms of aviation. In 2018, we made changes to the Transportation Modernization Act, increasing foreign investment limits from 25% to 49%. This shift has encouraged competition and allowed airlines to access more foreign capital, leading to better services for Canadians.
Despite these improvements, there’s more work to do. I’m committed to working with our partners, industry, and other government levels to evaluate the best ways to support the sector. The goal is to ensure Canadians and tourists can access reliable and affordable air travel.
Given Canada’s expansive size but relatively limited domestic market, how will you make it easier for smaller carriers to break into regional scenes and connect remote communities with the rest of the country?
Post-pandemic, our government made significant investments to help the air sector recover. We worked with airlines and airports to remove bottlenecks, streamline processes, and create efficiencies, particularly in regional air transport. Programs like the Remote Air Services Program and the Regional Air Transportation Initiative support smaller, regional airports.
In addition, our Airport Capital Assistance Program invests in infrastructure to enhance safety in rural and regional areas. We recognize that maintaining and upgrading airport infrastructure is vital for the economic health of these communities.
Canada’s geography is uniquely subject to increasingly extreme weather and seasonal fluctuations affecting travel operations. How do you plan to strengthen aging infrastructure to minimize flight delays and cancellations?
The 2024 budget commits to strengthening Canada's infrastructure, including airports. This involves working with partners to attract investments, particularly from institutional investors like pension funds, to modernize and expand airport facilities.
By enhancing infrastructure, we can help airports handle growing traffic while improving the passenger experience. Our goal is to ensure that Canadian airports can continue to welcome both citizens and tourists efficiently in the coming years.
Congestion in Canadian airports has been an ongoing challenge exacerbated by the pandemic. With the traveller complaint backlog reaching a record high of 52,000, what solutions are you implementing to ease pressures in the short term?
After the significant congestion issues in the summer of 2022, our government collaborated with various stakeholders—airlines, airports, security screeners, and baggage handlers—to address the bottlenecks. Since then, there has been a marked improvement in wait times for security screening and overall system performance.
We were the first to introduce Air Passenger Protection Regulations in 2019, ensuring Canadians are compensated for poor service. We’ve since invested $76 million in the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), allowing them to streamline processes and hire 200 more employees to handle complaints more efficiently.
Given the increasing workforce shortages, how can Canada remain competitive with the opportunities and higher pilot salaries the North American labour market is offering?
Our government is working with provinces, territories, and industry to attract and retain workers in the air sector. A report from March 2023 addressed the labour shortages in Canadian transportation. In Budget 2024, we also made significant investments in Sustainable Aviation Fuel production and greening the sector.
We’re committed to working with stakeholders to make training and support for pilots and mechanics more accessible, addressing the sector’s labour shortages. A strong, reliable air transportation sector is vital for Canada's economy and connectivity.
In line with goals to reduce emissions from global fuel in aviation by 5% by 2030, how does Canada plan to become more self-sufficient and move away from volatile fuel prices stifling operations?
Canada’s provinces and territories regulate fuel prices, but our Aviation Climate Action Plan sets a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The Sustainable Aviation Task Force is leading efforts to implement the plan, which includes increasing the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Our target is to have 10% SAF usage by 2030, which will help mitigate the impact of volatile fuel prices and drive us toward our net-zero future.
Your predecessor’s legislative reforms have been criticized for being too punitive. What kind of reforms can we expect to see advancing civil aviation in the next 18 months of your premiership?
As the aviation industry evolves, so must Canada’s regulations. We’re focusing on modernizing the sector and supporting emerging green technologies like sustainable aviation fuel. We are also working with manufacturers, airports, and other stakeholders to ensure air travel remains accessible and dignified for all Canadians. We are committed to advancing the sector with reforms that reflect the challenges of our time while promoting innovation and sustainability.
