Carney proposes private investment for Canada's four largest airports

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a plan to invite private investment into the operation of Canada's four largest airports through long-term concession agreements, a move that has sparked immediate political debate over potential impacts on passenger costs and service. Speaking at the Canada Investment Summit in Toronto on September 15, 2026, Carney said the federal government would seek private capital to operate Toronto Pearson, Montreal Trudeau, Calgary, and Vancouver International airports. Under the proposed model, the government would retain ownership of the underlying land and assets, while private investors would manage the facilities. "This isn't selling off the airports," Carney told the summit. "This is partnering with the private sector to improve the flying experience for passengers." He said the initiative could raise tens of billions of dollars to reinvest in improving regional air transportation and other priorities like national broadband. The proposal represents the most significant potential change to airport structures since local authorities took over management in the early 1990s. It has drawn opposition from several quarters.