Canada stands at a crucial juncture, facing an opportunity to make generational investments in critical

infrastructure

that are unmatched since the post-Second World War era. Current geopolitical realities underscore the urgency of economic sovereignty, pushing governments to finally prioritize a robust, modern national infrastructure program.

My lifelong experience in the transportation sector, beginning with my upbringing in the northern Ontario rail town of White River, has instilled a profound appreciation for infrastructure’s intrinsic value. More than just physical assets and financial figures, it is the lifeblood of communities, providing essential access and enabling economic vitality.

White River’s

Canadian Pacific Railway

stop was originally built in the 1880s. Ontario towns that most people have never heard of, such as Franz, Missanabie and Chapleau, are stops along the route.

Canadians generally never give such places a second thought, but they always captured my imagination. My father and grandfather were CP Rail engineers and took great pride in plying their stretch of track. Occasionally, I tagged along, keeping a watchful eye for moose or other impediments along the way.

Every stop was routine and an event at the same time, with people and freight coming on and off. In reality, it was a matter of survival since many places had no other means of access prior to the Trans Canada Highway being built in future years.

Railways were the foundation upon which Canada was built, but air service was the necessary evolution, exponentially expanding economic growth by connecting vast and remote regions.

Again, I was fortunate to see this firsthand when my parents operated a small hunting and fishing charter business. This grew over the years to focus on scheduled passenger service, flying farther afield to different parts of the country. It ultimately became the core of Jazz Aviation, the country’s largest regional airline today.

The experience I gained over the years by doing everything from odd jobs to flying as a pilot to management positions culminated in the founding of

Porter Airlines

in 2006.

Porter’s story illustrates the critical importance of private-sector leadership in infrastructure development. At

Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

, we invested tens of millions of dollars in new terminal facilities when others would not bet on a new airline. This was a business decision

and

a commitment to building the necessary platform for growth.

Today, however, we see promising infrastructure projects stifled by outdated regulatory barriers.

Billy Bishop is constrained by a 1980s-era agreement that bans jet aircraft. Modern, quieter, smaller jets exist that fit the airport’s scale and would unlock a much wider range of destinations, boosting Toronto’s

competitiveness

. Discussions to modernize this provision are welcome, but need swift action.

Montreal Metropolitan Airport (MET) is preparing to open a highly efficient terminal at Saint-Hubert on the city’s South Shore. Porter has also invested in this project, with partner Macquarie Asset Management, in order to provide needed air capacity for the region. Built to annually serve four million passengers, the airport is currently barred from operating international flights due to an outdated exclusivity decision in favour of the city’s major airport.

Both Billy Bishop and MET demonstrate the potential of complementary secondary airports to provide travellers with greater choice and significantly stimulate local economic development. Yet, they remain handicapped by inertia and policy decisions that no longer serve the national interest.

Canada’s legacy is built on monumental transportation infrastructure projects. But that legacy is threatened by political and regulatory wrangling that continually slows progress, often derailing vital projects entirely.

The renewed governmental focus on rebuilding Canada is a positive development, providing a genuine opportunity for meaningful public-private partnerships. We cannot afford to take decades to find solutions when the answers are clear and readily available.

The people and communities of Canada depend on us to act decisively. Our competitiveness, and our economic sovereignty, hang in the balance.

Robert Deluce is founder and executive chairman of Porter Airlines (Canada) Ltd., and a member of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame and Canada’s Aviation Hall of Fame.

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