While air transport comes under federal jurisdiction, the gouvernement du Québec plays an important role in it due to the challenges it involves for Québec. The Québec Air Transportation Policy, adopted in November 2002, immediately acknowledged air transportation’s strategic position in the economic and social development of all of Québec’s regions. Over the years, the gouvernement du Québec has become involved in various facets of air transportation.
The ministère des Transports owns 27 airports, most of which are located in remote or isolated regions; it also owns 8 heliports located on the Lower North Shore and Lower Saint Lawrence. Airports in remote, isolated communities play a key role in terms of access to health care, educational services and justice, as well as administering the region. Over 10 million dollars are spent each year on operating and maintaining these infrastructures.
What’s more, the government provides financial assistance to carriers to help them get through business difficulties and maintain air service that would otherwise have been abandoned. Other financial support is also granted to representative organizations and to conduct studies.
Because it is aware of the high cost of air travel for those living in remote, isolated regions, the ministère reimburses are portion if the airfare for these residents, under the terms of the Airfare Reduction Program. It also gives Nunavik residents financial assistance with freight expenses.
In Québec, service to the territory is primarily built around the Air Canada Jazz network, and complemented by local second- and third-level carriers. In the context of Canada’s unstable air industry and high rates, in 2003, the government entered into a three-year agreement with Air Canada for regional air services, thus securing the continuance of services offered in Québec and reduced rates for a substantial number of seats. With end of the agreement with Air Canada in 2006, the Ministère engaged in consultations and proceeded to set up a concertation committee with participation from regional representatives so as to find a global solution to regional air transportation.
The Air Transportation Assistance Program and enhancement of the Airfare Reduction Program arise from the concertation committee’s recommendations. In addition to residents of isolated regions, residents of remote regions will henceforth be eligible for the Airfare Reduction Program. Note that the yearly amount allocated takes into account target region’s isolation factor. The Air Transportation Assistance Program, for its part, ensures that the regional service network is maintained, and fosters growth in air transportation through the development of new routes and services, as well as by developing the knowledge of regional markets. The agreement with Air Canada was not renewed in its current form, but the gouvernement du Québec is maintaining its business relationship with the carrier to ensure that citizens continue to benefit from a service offering that bolsters the stability and accessibility of regional air transportation in Québec. A committee formed by the Ministère, made up of regional representatives, monitors Québec’s air transportation situation.
The Ministère’s intervention in the air transportation sector is highly focused on the regions due to its importance to communities that wish to maintain quality services at reasonable prices for residents. In spite of these concerns, other substantial international challenges are drawing the gouvernement du Québec’s attention. The deregulation of air transportation, the “Open Skies” between Canada and other nations, and the support provided to major international civil aviation organizations in Montreal (ICAO, IATA, ATIS) all have impacts for the entire air transportation industry and for the whole of Québec.
