Mr. Speaker, the government is driving billions of dollars away from the Canadian airline industry. In Winnipeg alone the airport authority believes more than 50,000 Manitobans a year stream across the border for cheaper flights.
A January 9, 2011 flight from Winnipeg to Los Angeles, priced at $342, is only $97 from Fargo, taxes included. The government's taxes, the highest in the world, account for up to 70% of the total fare. It is hurting Canadian airlines, taking $3 billion more every year than it puts in.
Why will the government not help the Canadian aviation industry compete?