Federal Liberal caucus holds call to discuss Canadian airports: sources

OTTAWA – The federal Liberal caucus hastily called a meeting with its MPs on Monday to discuss the future of Canadian airports, according to multiple sources.

Those sources tell CTV News that only MPs and none of their staff were allowed on the call.

The federal government has been actively exploring the privatization and alternative ownership models of its major airports, which currently run under a not-for-profit model where local airport authorities manage federally owned land via long-term leases.

In both the 2025 federal budget and this spring’s economic statement, the federal government signalled its intent to pursue alternative ownership models.

One MP, who was on the call, tells CTV News the call focused on the selling of Canada’s four big airports – Toronto-Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, Calgary and Vancouver – and opening them to foreign investment.

That same MP says an announcement from Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon about providing investors with stakes in those airports is expected Tuesday, with legislation coming this fall. The MP added that several caucus members “voiced alarm” that the sale of airports was being presented as a “fait accompli.”

The intent to allow for privatization in airports was actually announced by the prime minister on Tuesday.

The call on Monday happened as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s inaugural Canada Investment Summit got underway in Toronto, with the goal of courting $1 trillion in investment over the next five years for major projects.

Airports were not among the more than 160 projects in the summit’s deal book.

Prior to the summit, the Canadian Labour of Congress released a report saying privatizing Canadian airports could lead to higher costs for travellers, increased pressure on airport workers and the loss of long-term public value.

The Unifor Aviation Council of Canada, meanwhile, protested outside the investment summit on Monday to push back against airport privatization.

“Outsourcing and contract flipping already drive down wages, benefits and working conditions, further public selloffs can only make this crisis worse for airport workers,” Unifor National president Lana Payne said in a press release.

“We have seen over and over again how the sell-off of public infrastructure leaves us more vulnerable economically. If there was ever a time to hold the line and build more public infrastructure, it is now.”