Yukon airport fees won't fly, says Air North president

The president of Air North says draft legislation that would allowthe Yukon government to charge an airport improvement fee would be disastrous for the industry.

"We didn't see the document at the time of the briefing, and after having had a chance to look at the actual document, it's raised some concerns," said Joe Sparling.

The Yukon government introduced Bill 6 on Oct. 4.The Public Airports Act is designed to oversee the territory's airports.

Sparling says there wasn't enough consultation with the industry over the summer.

Chief among his concernsis theclause that addresses "fees, rates and charges for the use of public airports and for the use of services at public airports."

The opposition Yukon Party says the clause suggests new fees may beon the horizon, though the Yukon government has denied that.

• Yukon gov't denies suggestion it plans to introduce airport tax

Sparling says anything that increases costs for travellers likean airport improvement fee (AIF) will hurt Yukon's aviation companies.

"I'd like to see that clause gone for sure," he said.

"I am absolutely and completely opposed to the implementation of an AIF in the Yukon, or in Whitehorse. Anything in there that gives the government to do that without a ton more consultation, I absolutely object to. I think it's the worst thing in the world they could do."

An airport improvement fee is a common charge atmost Canadian airports, however, Yukon's Public Works Minister Richard Mostynsaid in the legislature on Tuesday that his government has "no plans to introduce an airport improvement fee."

'Fine-tune the thing if necessary'

Sparling says his company has worked hard to make air travel more affordable.

"Now is not the time for the government to be sticking their hands in travellers' pockets," he said.

Sparlingadmits there was some consultation on Bill 6, but not nearly enough.

"Let's talk about industry's concerns before it goes any further," he said."Let's ... get the concerns on the table and fine-tune the thing if necessary."

Sparlingalso has a dim view of the government of the Northwest Territories' decision this year tointroduce newairport fees. He predicts the move willbackfire.

"I absolutely not do not agree with following anything [the] GNWT has done.I think what they're doing is going to prove a disaster for them."

Yukon's Bill 6 is currently in first reading.

• MLAs approve new fees for air travel from Yellowknife