We haven't done an in-depth study on this, but our general position at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre is that public services delivered directly from government are often more efficient. They have no profit motivation, and they are ready to step up when there are challenges like COVID-19 where there's a social reason for delivering the service.
Also, smaller airports have unique challenges—very similar to the telecommunications system—where the return on flights, if you will, is lower. Therefore, some government support, doing it through the airport.... Whether it's NavCan, or whatever CATSA used to be prior to that...would have been better served if it had been done by the federal government through the airport, with less involvement.
I hear Mr. Gradek saying that investment in the larger airports might be necessary from the private sector. I'm not sure. I think it's a matter of priorities for the government.