Annually, five million Canadians opt to cross the border and depart from U.S. airports when they fly, because they save on average $428 per person per round-trip. The Canadian government needs to facilitate and encourage competition in the air transportation sector or continue to lose to the U.S.
Transportation
Media Release – High Canadian Airfares are Hurting Airports and Our Economy: A New Policy is Required for Airport Transportation
Canadians are crossing the border into the United States to fly from their airports because departing from Canada is so much more expensive. The tax portion of the Canadian air ticket is ratcheted up with hefty federal fees and taxes. The US sees air transportation as essential to economic growth, while Canada sees it as a source of tax revenue.
Alberta Cannot Sustain a High Speed Train
Alberta’s Minister of Transportation announced the government is looking into building a high speed rail from Calgary to Edmonton. In order to be profitable, high speed rail must connect highly densely populated areas and transport huge numbers of people each day, and Alberta could not meet these criteria.
Media Release – Massive Cost Overrun for Calgary’s West LRT Line a Reminder that Rail is Rarely as Cheap as Advertised
Calgary’s West LRT line opened today. The project cost more than double the initial $700 million estimate. While the cost escalation is greater than occurs on average for urban rail projects, the reality is that the average North American urban rail project costs over 40 percent more than estimated, and garners 60 per cent less ridership than projected. Voters should be sceptical of rosy forecasts for light rail projects.
Featured News
Demand Fairness from Ottawa and Edmonton
A few weeks ago, Albertans voted to reduce the inequities in the federal equalization program. The deficit between the dollars that leave to and come back from Ottawa has recently been as high as $27 billion in one year. During times of crisis, it feels like salt in...
Inflation: They Win, You Lose: Politicos, Cronies Fleece Canadians with Monetary Expansion
One of the most widespread economic myths is that inflation—the reduced purchasing power of a currency—is a win for a nation, a sign of a booming economy. For the privileged classes in government and with initial access to monetary expansion, it is a win. For everyone...
Deregulation, Privatization, and the Rebirth of the CNR
It is one of the Chretien government’s least talked about policy successes. The renaissance of the Canadian National Railway offers a unique object lesson in good public policy. Taking the CNR out of the public sector allowed it to jump onto the success track.
The Transformation Of The CNR
One of the Chrétien government’s least talked about successes, the renaissance of the Canadian National Railway offers a unique object lesson in good public policy.
The Gasoline Gougers?
Gas prices vary for understandable reasons.
Riding The Rails – Via Rail
Passenger train service in Canada, delivered almost exclusively by Via Rail, has reached a “crossroads”, declared a newspaper headline early in September.
Speeding Up The Rails
The railroads’ poor performance in transporting Prairie farmers’ grain to ocean terminals is chronic and well documented. Private ownership, as demonstrated in Britain, offers a light at the end of this tunnel.
Free Parking Can Boost Downtown Core
Winnipeg’s Streets and Transportation Committee is reconsidering its parking meter policy. But the changes proposed will not reverse the declining use of downtown.
Taking The Public For A Ride
This week taxicab fares will jump 14%. Winnipeggers now get to pay among the highest rates in Canada.