Canadian airports ask for arrivals duty-free

Gavin Lipsith

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The Canadian Airports Council lobbies for arrivals duty-free as part of a five-poiint plan to enhance competitiveness

Canadian airports are asking the government to allow arrivals duty-free in the country. The Canadian Airports Council proposed the change of legislation as part of a five-point plan to increase the competitiveness of the country’s airports.

CAC president and CEO Jim Facette said that the plan—which also calls for the abolition of the state rent Canada’s government charges airports—would “go a long way to position Canada’s airports as leaders among their competitors for air links”.

Other points on the plan, which was presented to the country’s standing committee on finance as part of pre-budget consultations, include allocating more money for Customs services at airports; increasing funding for Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Programme; and improving international air service agreements.

The plea to introduce legislation for arrivals duty-free follows a separate submission by the Vancouver Board of Trade last year. In a letter to Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale dated November 22 2005, managing director Darcy Rezac wrote: “If people who wish to purchase duty-free know it is available upon arrival, they will spend their money here, and the benefits of that economic activity will accrue to Canada rather than to a foreign country. This is an important initiative for Vancouver International airport, where it would support the federal government’s Asia/Pacific Gateway strategy by making Vancouver an even more attractive North American entry point for Asian travellers.”

No timeframe has been mentioned for the government to consider the airports’ plan, but it is likely to be discussed before the budget announcement due by the end of the year.