Finance committee  Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the invitation to appear before you today to discuss the implications of Bill C-30 on Canada's $12.1-billion business aviation sector. While this is our the first appearance before the finance committee, the Canadian Business Aviation Association has been representing this sector for a long time.

Finance committee  Absolutely. I appreciate the question. The thing I would raise here is the idea that, as we've seen throughout the pandemic with the reductions of services, the ability to visit Canadians across the communities where they live, coast to coast to coast, has been impacted. The 10% tax just makes the business decision to acquire these aircraft that much more difficult.

Finance committee  I appreciate that, Christine. What I would add first—and I appreciate the question—is that, with respect to the luxury tax, we need to understand the impact on the industry. On average, business aviation as a whole generates $33 million in GDP for the country every single day.

Finance committee  Sure, and I appreciate the question. With respect to personal, the way it was presented there is still some room for interpretation with respect to certain commercial activities. There is language that states that an aircraft under 39 seats doesn't qualify. What we're trying to recognize is that it's the importance of not just the industry within Canada—that is to say, aviation and aerospace—and the importance of research and development and those things that go on.

Finance committee  The cost...yes.

Finance committee  I appreciate the question. Thank you. We have done that. In fact, I believe it was the election platform in 2019. There was some language that first came through about luxury tax and specifically about aviation. We initially consulted with government back then and it went away.

Transport committee  Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for your invitation to appear before you to discuss ways to reduce red tape at urban and rural Canadian airports. I'd like to begin by telling you a bit about business aviation and how our sector aligns with and supports the larger aviation community.

Transport committee  I appreciate that. What I would say right away is that it's timely. Canada ranks 107th for price competitiveness. The World Economic Forum did a tourism competitiveness report in 2019. Those measures were ticket taxes and airport charges. Fuel price levels were one of the areas as well.

Transport committee  I'd offer that right now, at least in Canada, with our trusted traveller program, if you are a NEXUS-certified individual, you approach the CATSA line and you're in a fast lane, but you merge with the slow traffic ahead. In other words, there is no recognition for a trusted traveller.

Transport committee  On that question, definitely the COVID regulations right now.... Today, the 16th, sees the European Union, for instance, remove its mask mandate. In totality we understand the reasons why these things came about, but it is time now to find a way forward. Why? It's because of the frontline employees who interface with our passengers.

Transport committee  Perhaps I can just add a quick comment. That statistic was alarming. It's out of 170 countries that we are 107th on price competitiveness, and the biggest challenge, of course, is the next one, which is being 40th in terms of promotion of travel and tourism. This was before COVID, so the problem is coming out of this.

Transport committee  What I've seen with respect to international crew members, number one, is that it's one thing to understand Canada's regulations, but it's another to say the international members who are coming into Canada face.... There is no exemption for crew members, let's say, on the vaccination front.

Transport committee  Very early on in the pandemic we pushed very hard to have those take-home test kits. To that question from the member, very specifically, it's just the way that things get done. From our airports, we're creating that back flow of travellers. I would suggest working with a vendor and responsibly tracking and tracing those individual kits.

Finance committee  Good morning, Mr. Chair. Thank you. My name is Anthony Norejko. On behalf of the Canadian Business Aviation Association, I am here to discuss key considerations for the upcoming 2024 pre-budget consultation. By way of a quick background, our association is the voice for business aviation in Canada.

Finance committee  The way I would frame the luxury tax is that it's important to first recognize the work of this committee. This committee understood that aviation should be separate and studied, but that did not happen. There's still an opportunity. The luxury tax triggers at $100,000. Any aircraft with wings qualifies then for the luxury tax, no matter the purpose.