Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to address you today on the global markets action plan and air transport agreements. This is an important discussion. We have had a tremendous amount of dialogue in recent years about how the proliferation of free trade agreements will have a positive effect on Canada's economy.
Today we have the opportunity to delve into the details of how trade actually happens, how goods and the people trading these goods actually move across borders. This discussion is an opportunity for us to think big and to think long term. We know that public policy has an impact on our business and its growth.
Open skies, airline deregulations, and indeed the establishment of current airports model in Canada, are all examples of how public policy innovations have led to significant new opportunities and growth for our economy. I would like to take you through some of our thoughts on this.
Today, business is global. Last year, Toronto Pearson carried almost 39 million passengers. By 2033, this number is forecast to reach 62 million. Of the 39 million passengers served in 2014, more than 12 million were to destinations outside North America. Toronto Pearson serves 31 Canadian cities, 44 American cities, and 96 international destinations These cities are served on 65 different airlines with more than 400,000 flights annually.
Toronto Pearson is second in North America in number of international travellers and the fastest growing airport in North America for the years 2010 to 2014. Our airport alone facilitates $35.4 billion, or almost 6% of Ontario's GDP, and supports 277,000 jobs. By 2030 these benefits will grow to $62.1 billion in economic value, which is 7% of Ontario' s GDP, and 478,000 jobs. Almost 450,000 tonnes of cargo was transported via Toronto Pearson in 2014.
As a leading global hub for the movement of people and goods, Toronto Pearson competes with other global jurisdictions, so we must have policies and the right legislative environment to support our economy's demand for aviation service to support this important economic engine. We, too, play a part in economic diplomacy as discussed by the Minister of Trade in the global markets action plan.
The airport is not only the first impression of Canada to most people coming into this country, but we are the gateway through which a tremendous amount of our trade and investment flows.
The global markets action plan and Canada's blue sky policy, which includes air transportation agreements, have been key drivers in this growth. As of January of this year, Canada has signed agreements with 44 countries that cover approximately 71% of Canada's international passenger traffic.
The government should be congratulated for the number of air service agreements that have been signed or modernized, many of which have helped Toronto Pearson support the greater Toronto area's economy, indeed Canada's economy. Canada has also concluded open sky agreements with countries collectively, representing about 91% of Canada's overall international two-way trade.
Toronto Pearson is actively involved in the international air policy process, contributing as a key stakeholder in the prioritization of target countries for bilateral talks and providing market insights and considerations in the development of negotiating mandates for the government.
Government has been very responsive to industry input and we are pleased with the results. As we develop our priorities for new and expanded air services, we often find that our priorities are aligned with those of government. This is particularly evident with respect to the Asian countries, such as China and India, where growth in air transportation is exponential. We need to maintain a focus on this region of the world to ensure that Canada captures its share of the enormous growth of the middle class in these emerging markets.
But we must not forget and must also address the needs and desires of passengers. They would like to have direct flights and increased frequencies—if not direct, then one-stop with fast connections—and a choice of fares and products.
To be truly competitive as an international hub that delivers economic benefit to Canada, we need to deliver on four key areas that improve access and flow at Toronto Pearson: getting people through the airport more quickly and more efficiently, which I call hassle-free flow; ensuring passenger security is a priority, while balancing the need to improve efficiency; attracting carriers and providing routes for passengers and cargo that maximize the airport's economic contribution to the region and country; and ground transportation, as the airport is never a person's final destination. We need efficient interconnectivity, not only to other airports but also to our Ontario and regional ground transportation infrastructure.
These factors will allow us to maximize our value proposition to the Canadian economy. Yet, there is significant competition for global hub status. To realize our potential for the benefit of Canada the airport must remain competitive with other major hub airports in the world. Anything that creates delays or unnecessary costs for international travellers hurts our ability to compete and must be examined and addressed. That means the processes by which we clear passengers through security. That means the processes by which passengers get through customs or U.S. pre-clearance. That means evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of CATSA in providing screening. There cannot be any sacred cows if we want to be the best and make an optimal contribution.
Airports are economic engines for their communities. They generate and underpin jobs, investments, and commerce. For example, York University reports that it has students from 165 countries and 288 partnerships with universities around the world. Expenditures by international students in Canada were more than $8 billion in 2010. According to the president and vice-chancellor at York, “Toronto Pearson, as a globally connected airport, helps make this a reality.”
Airports are the conduits through which we realize the benefits of free trade relationships, something that has been a priority for this government. We know we need to continue to adapt to an ever-changing world and we believe we have been doing that. We also understand the importance of having continued dialogue on policy. From trade policy to security policy, safety, multimodal transportation infrastructures, and our partnerships with federal agencies, all need to work in a way that best serves us all.
With that, I would like to thank you, Mr. Chair, for the opportunity to appear before your committee today, and I would be happy to answer any questions you have.
