Ford backs Carney plan to let private investors run Canada's four largest airports
Prime Minister announced privatization model at Canada Investment Summit in Toronto. Regulation would stay with Transport Canada; Ford pushes to expand idea to Billy Bishop.
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Update — September 16, 2026: Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Tuesday that the federal government would retain ownership of airport land and assets while private operators would manage the four largest airports under long-term concessions, with the government retaining regulatory oversight through Transport Canada. Ford has additionally pushed to include Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in the privatization, a move the federal government previously rejected, though the Toronto Port Authority's CEO estimates expansion of that airport could cost $4 to $5 billion and be self-funded. Carney proposes using concession fee revenue to reinvest in regional airports, local transportation, and other infrastructure.
Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Tuesday that the federal government will seek private investment to operate Canada's four largest airports—Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver—through long-term concessions, while retaining ownership of airport land and assets. Regulation and oversight would remain with Transport Canada. The policy shift would allow Ottawa to redirect spending on major airports' operating costs toward smaller regional airports and potentially reduce traveller costs at regional destinations.
Premier Doug Ford called the plan "fabulous" and said privatization "should've been done years ago." Ford pushed to expand the idea to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, calling it "shovel ready" and an ideal privatization project that would greatly benefit the economy.
Toronto Pearson, Canada's busiest airport, is operated by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. The current structure involves private, not-for-profit airport authorities that lease airports from the federal government and are financially independent with authority to set their own fees.
Karen Hennessey, a business law partner at Gowling WLG, said Carney's plan would likely require legislative changes. "This isn't going to be the situation where the concessionaire is allowed to just take over and run it the way they would run any other business," she said.
As HighOnCity reported in July, the federal government rejected Ontario's plan to let jets land at Billy Bishop Airport after receiving public submissions. Ford government passed the Billy Bishop takeover bill in May 2026, but federal support remains uncertain.
✓ What timeline and operational structure would apply to Billy Bishop under any privatization model, given the federal government rejected Ontario's jet-expansion proposal in July?
Answered September 17, 2026
Have Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, or Vancouver airport authorities formally applied for or expressed interest in privatization under this model?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
Which four Canadian airports would be privatized under Carney's plan?
Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver would be operated by private investors through long-term concessions, while the federal government retains ownership of the land and assets.
Who would keep regulatory oversight of the airports?
Transport Canada would retain regulation and oversight of the four airports under the privatization model.
What does Premier Ford want to add to the privatization plan?
Doug Ford called for Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to be included in the privatization plan, describing it as 'shovel ready' and an ideal project that would benefit the economy.
How are Canada's largest airports currently operated?
They are operated by private, not-for-profit airport authorities that lease airports from the federal government and are financially independent with authority to set their own fees. Toronto Pearson, Canada's busiest airport, is operated by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority.
