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Re: Why Canadians can’t have ultralow-cost air journey, Opinion, Oct. 21
Jonah Prousky’s opinion column on airport prices is loaded with inaccuracies and false premises.
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Canada’s aviation infrastructure prices will not be particularly excessive, however they’re paid for otherwise than they’re elsewhere. In america, which he makes use of as a comparability, airport infrastructure is paid for by the federal government and is subsequently supported by tax income. Nonetheless, underneath the Canadian mannequin, main airports are non-profit companies that acquire charges primarily based on the individuals who use airports. The charges, that are collected by airways, are used to self-finance infrastructure. Our airports have saved Canadian taxpayers greater than $30 billion in infrastructure prices. Solely the individuals and firms who use airports pay for them.
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After all, value issues and extra authorities help could be welcome. One of the best ways to minimize the price of airport infrastructure on this nation is for the federal authorities to reinvest the $400 million in rents that airports pay the treasury yearly. The opposite subject our nation faces in creating a flourishing ultralow-cost service (ULCC) mannequin is one in all density. ULCC’s generate income on quantity and ancillary costs corresponding to seats and baggage. The elemental distinction is Canada solely has roughly 5 per cent of the inhabitants of Europe with the identical land mass.
Prousky’s chosen examples are arrival corridor backups and lengthy strains at safety from the pandemic restart, which got here from pandemic testing measures, low federal company staffing and poor on-time efficiency by the airways.
Based on delay statistics catalogued by the carriers and not too long ago printed by Transport Canada, 58 per cent of all Canadian flight delays in 2022 had been the results of operational or security causes inside service management — causes corresponding to overly optimistic scheduling, inefficient fleet upkeep, and an lack of ability to rent and retain pilots and floor handlers.
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Monette Pasher, president, Canadian Airports Council, Ottawa
In reward of the performing arts
Re: Constructing psychological wellness in younger individuals via the ability of performing arts, Opinion, Oct. 21
We aren’t born in a vacuum, however as social creatures we want companionship and must really feel as if we’re half of a bigger staff/group. Through the pandemic, our youth suffered from pressured isolation and on-line studying. Past that, a lot in our society is digital/on-line so our kids usually don’t socialize and can have issue transitioning to the actual world as adults.
Final 12 months, my youngest son took a theatre class in highschool. He found that he had a expertise for efficiency as he ended up garnering many lead roles. This helped him immensely to construct self-confidence and lasting private friendships. It additionally gave his thoughts respite as he had a heavy schedule with difficult programs.
Performing arts not solely encourages socialization and builds confidence, but additionally offers kids a much-needed mental break. It ought to undoubtedly be inspired.
Michael Pravica, Henderson, Nevada
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Alberta pension plan has benefit
Controversy over an Alberta pension plan led me to learn the LifeWorks report (Toronto consulting agency), and components of the CPP Act.
Alberta has the best to withdraw and advantages or plan liabilities should be equal. An APP can proceed utilizing CPP to speculate the funds, which brings no extra danger. Premier Danielle Smith has instructed this.
The APP switch quantity has been diminished by about half the CPP formulation by LifeWorks. CPP’s “pay as you go” strategy was modified in 1997, to build up a fund. The first contributors between 2008 and 2017 (CTF report) have been B.C. ($5 billion), Ontario ($7.5 billion), and Alberta ($27.9 billion). Alberta has paid in additional than 60 per cent of CPP advantages for a while — an APP might scale back Alberta’s danger.
The APP switch quantity calculated by LifeWorks was $334 billion. A neighborhood economist made an estimate of $130 billion. May $232 billion make sense since Smith needs a tough quantity?
The APP actuarial calculated premium price might be diminished to avoid wasting Albertans $5 billion per 12 months. Why are Albertans freely giving $5 billion per 12 months?Why did we not change this 10 years in the past?
Let’s look previous the political alarmism and make a rational determination about this.
Orin Grovum, Calgary
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UCP math doesn’t add up
How can we belief a authorities that doesn’t help frequent sense, or life-saving public well being insurance policies with our retirement safety?
It doesn’t take a genius to acknowledge that the premier’s math merely doesn’t add up. Ontario’s inhabitants sits at over 14 million and has exceeded Alberta’s inhabitants of 4.4 million individuals since 1951. I’m certain these people have been paying into CPP since its inception in 1966. The identical is true for the entire inhabitants of the remaining provinces and territories, excluding Quebec. For those who subtract Quebec’s 8.8 million individuals from Canada’s whole inhabitants of 39 million, that leaves you with 30.2 million individuals.
If the UCP thinks that Alberta’s 4.4 million individuals outweighs the contribution of the remaining 25.8 million, it’s merely not true. The assertion that Alberta has a declare on greater than 50 per cent of the CPP fund is a slap within the face to over 25 million individuals.
My spouse and I relocated as seniors to Alberta due to the safety this province afforded. We’ve got come to like the land and the individuals right here. Nonetheless, if the UCP is profitable on this bid to rob the remainder of Canada and set up a provincial pension plan at the price of our CPP, we will likely be leaving. I don’t doubt that others will observe and lots of extra will likely be reluctant to think about coming right here.
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Peter Burns, Lethbridge
Will Alberta purchase in to pension push?
I’m in favour of leaving the CPP and making a provincial plan — with one situation. After working in Alberta for 44 years and watching authorities after authorities squander our provincial fortune 12 months after 12 months, I believe simply as soon as the province ought to make investments straight into the pockets of Albertans.
After phrases are reached with the CPP and we agree on an quantity, the Alberta authorities ought to match it — the best way an employer may match RRSP contributions. If we will extract $200 billion from CPP, then Premier Danielle Smith also needs to kick in $200 billion. A one-time matching.
I assumed Peter Lougheed’s Heritage Fund was supposed to place us at “Norway” standing, nevertheless it has been a little bit of a nothing burger.
Rob Simpson, Calgary
A warning in international politics
I used to be elated by the outcomes of elections in Spain and Poland, during which the acute proper took a beating. However now we study that one in all Putin’s allies has been named to the highly effective place of Speaker of the U.S. Home of Representatives.
I might urge all Canadians, particularly Albertans, to place apart their petty quarrels and make some sturdy, seen assertion of help for Ukraine and the battle that nation is combating towards fascism.
Murray Gibbs, Calgary
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