IAM Raises Concerns Over Federal Budget Plan to Privatize Canada’s Four Largest Airports
On Thursday November 5, 2026 the Carney Government released their “Masters of Destiny 2026 Budget” where it provided some further details on their plans to privatize the four largest Airports in Canada. The Budget proposes to seek private investment in Canada’s four largest airports through long-term operating concessions. Under this model, investors (such as pension funds) would operate the airports for 40 to 50 years, while Canada would keep ownership of airport lands and assets (Chapter One, pg. 120). The federal government is setting aside $37.6 million over three years to develop the framework and select the first operator by early 2029, and new legislation will be needed to put the model in place (Chapter One, pg. 121). While the proposal includes protections for travellers, it makes no mention of the workers who keep these airports running.
“The Canadian Government has yet to clarify whether it intends to allow investors in Canadian airports to become employers at those airports. If permitted, this could trigger a race to the bottom in wages and working conditions, putting both current and future airport workers at risk. The IAM is calling on the Government of Canada to provide greater clarity on its plans and address the potential impact on workers across this country.” said David Chartrand, General Vice-President of IAM Union in Canada.
Continued Chartrand: The IAM will continue to press the government to guarantee the jobs, wages, pensions, and bargaining rights of airport workers under any concession model, and to ensure those protections are written in legislation from the start.”
The IAM represents the largest number of workers at Canadian Airports.
More information and updates to follow in the upcoming weeks.
