Announcement Welcomed Cautiously By Canada's National Airlines Council

During his campaign to become Premier of the Ontario Provincial Government in Canada, Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate Patrick Brown has released a package of tax cuts that would include a rollback of the province's aviation fuel tax.

According to the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC), Ontario has the highest provincial aviation fuel tax in the country. The council welcomed the announcement of the tax cut, but did so cautiously.

"[The] 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 travellers, communities and the aviation industry," said Massimo Bergamini, NACC president and CEO, in a statement released to the media.

"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 acknowledgement that any aviation tax is actually a tax on the middle class.

"We believe that such an acknowledgement 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 remains unanswered questions with regards to how the Ontario PC Party's policies on carbon pricing will affect aviation and travellers.

"We look forward to discussing these matters with Mr. Brown and his colleagues in the near future," Bergamini said.

(Source: NACC news release)

FMI: www.airlinecouncil.ca