Yes, the position of the NACC is that this is essentially an additional tax on air travellers. Through the initial years of CATSA's operation, there were additional funds collected through that charge above and beyond what CATSA required. Those went into general revenue; they were not put aside to fund the charges as the CATSA charges came up. From our perspective, it would have been nice if that money had been put aside to pay upcoming CATSA bills as opposed to being taken into general revenues. So it is seen as being a tax.
On May 6th, 2010. See this statement in context.