Most against privatizing of airports: survey

More than half of Canadians think the privatization of airports is a bad idea and that it would result in more expensive, less pleasant travel, according to a poll released by the Angus Reid Institute on Wednesday.

The survey found 53 per cent of Canadians opposed airport privatization, with only 21 per cent saying they thought was a good idea. The rest, 26 per cent, said they didn’t know.

Canadians who travel more often were slightly more likely to believe privatization is a good thing.

The results of the poll, which was conducted between April 7 and 10, come after Justin Trudeau indicated last week that he had no interest in pursuing the privatization of Canada’s airports, for the time being.

Currently, Canadian airports are semi-privatized, meaning they are run by authorities whose sole client is the government.

Last year, the Trudeau government hired Credit Suisse Group AG, a financial services company, to assess the potential benefits of selling off Canada’s major airports. There was, however, no indication of plans to privatize the airports in this year’s federal budget.

Of survey respondents, 57 per cent said privatization would make it more expensive to fly and 46 per cent said that it would degrade their travel experience.

Almost half also said they think it would make air travel less secure.

Airport security screenings would be unlikely to change under new ownership, but things like airport patrolling and surveillance cameras might, the Angus Reid report suggested.

Shachi Kurl, executive director at the Angus Reid Institute said the government needs to be more clear about the benefits if they’re serious about privatizing Canada’s airports.

Selling off Canada’s major airports to the private sector could result in a big pay off for Ottawa.

A study from the C.D. Howe Institute released in February showed the government could raise between $7.2 billion and $16.6 billion. The report urged government to consider the benefits of selling Canada’s eight largest airports in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Winnipeg and Ottawa.

The poll involved about 1,500 randomly selected members of the Angus Reid Forum and carries a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.