Ontario, a province in Canada has the highest provincial aviation fuel tax in the country. Today’s commitment by Patrick Brown to ‘reverse the 148% increase to the aviation fuel tax for all Northern airports’ is a welcome first step in addressing its impact on travelers, communities, and the aviation industry.
A statement was issued by Massimo Bergamini, President and CEO of the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) following the announcement today by Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown that if elected, his government would roll back aviation fuel tax increases for Northern Ontario airport communities
If implemented this will help reduce the cost of moving people and goods in and out of the region, and contribute to spurring tourism and economic growth.
Most importantly though, given the nature of the demographics of air travel in Canada today and the razor-thin profit margins that characterize the industry, this is an acknowledgment that any aviation tax is actually a tax on the middle class.
We believe that such an acknowledgment represents a sound foundation for a much-needed discussion on lowering the cost of air travel for all of Ontario.
As much as we welcome today’s aviation fuel announcement, there remain unanswered questions with regards to how the Ontario PC Party’s policies on carbon pricing will affect aviation and travelers.
We look forward to discussing these matters with Mr. Brown and his colleagues in the near future.”
