Getting More Value for Money – June 4, 2013
Saskatchewan needs new model for inter-city busing that provides service everywhere it is needed in the province at affordable costs, even in unprofitable routes, while expanding coverage and fostering a healthy market culture.

Media Release - Competition can give Saskatchewan inter-city bus riders more for less – June 4, 2013
Saskatchewan’s inter-city bus ridership levels have declined significantly over the last several decades, while subsidy levels have climbed to $10.5 million in 2012. Saskatchewan should follow states such as Washington, which has de-regulated fares and scheduling, while providing subsidies for unprofitable routes that are socially desirable through a least-cost system awarding routes to carriers willing to do so for the lowest subsidy level possible.

The Canadian Air Industry and the Case of Porter Airlines – May 30, 2013
This recent turbulence in the skies is not restricted to Canada. Around the world, the airline industry is in a state of flux. This Backgrounder analyzes the growth challenges of Canadian airlines.

Media Release - What’s Next in the Air Industry? – May 30, 2013
Today, the Frontier Centre for Public Policy issued The Canadian Air Industry and the Case of Porter Airlines, authored by Mary-Jane Bennett. There have been big changes in the Canadian aviation sector. Porter Airlines announced an ambitious expansion last month. WestJet, built on the low-cost model and now in the international market, announced the launch of subsidiary, Encore, to debut this summer. Legacy carrier Air Canada intends to launch its new subsidiary, rouge, this summer as well.

Don’t Transfer Airport Ownership Without Compensating Canadians – May 29, 2013
The Senate recently recommended that airport rents be phased out and ownership of Canada’s public airports be transferred to the non-profit corporations that now run them. Frontier’s Mary-Jane Bennett asserts that this is wrongheaded. Airports are publically owned and worth billions of dollars. They should not be transferred without fairly compensating Canadians.

Ontario Opposition Parties Should Embrace Toll Roads – April 17, 2013
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynn recently floated the idea of tolling Toronto area highways to pay for the region’s ageing roads and bridges. Opposition parties argue that this is merely a tax grab. In reality, road tolls are the best way to fight traffic congestion, and are a fair way to pay for roads.

Dr. Stephen Blank, Transport Expert – February 7, 2013
Inhibiting cross border integration with the United States and with Mexico makes the economy generally less efficient and raises costs. It’s a trade barrier that is found in many places and it makes things move less efficiently, raises the costs, and it increases environmental load because you are running more empty vehicles around.

“Let’s all meet in Honolulu. It’s cheaper than flying home to Toronto”: the problem with Canadian air fares – January 18, 2013
Canadians are crossing the border into the United States to fly from American airports because departing from Canada is much more expensive. In fact, Canadians make up over half of the passengers departing from some American airports near the border. This is a result of government policy.

A New Policy is Required for Air Transportation – January 11, 2013
Annually, five million Canadians opt to cross the border and depart from U.S. airports when they fly, because they save on average $428 per person per round-trip. The Canadian government needs to facilitate and encourage competition in the air transportation sector or continue to lose to the U.S.

Media Release - High Canadian Airfares are Hurting Airports and Our Economy – January 11, 2013
Canadians are crossing the border into the United States to fly from their airports because departing from Canada is so much more expensive. The tax portion of the Canadian air ticket is ratcheted up with hefty federal fees and taxes. The US sees air transportation as essential to economic growth, while Canada sees it as a source of tax revenue.

Calgarians Deserve Details on Swollen Project Prices – December 21, 2012
Whatever the process for tallying up a $1.4-billion bill, the West LRT still ranks as an insanely costly project, at $190 million per kilometre of track, or $42,000 and change per estimated daily rider according to a review done by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy.

Alberta Cannot Sustain a High Speed Train – December 14, 2012
Alberta’s Minister of Transportation announced the government is looking into building a high speed rail from Calgary to Edmonton. In order to be profitable, high speed rail must connect highly densely populated areas and transport huge numbers of people each day, and Alberta could not meet these criteria.

Media Release - Massive Cost Overrun for Calgary’s West LRT Line a Reminder that Rail is Rarely as Cheap as Advertised – December 10, 2012
Calgary’s West LRT line opened today. The project cost more than double the initial $700 million estimate. While the cost escalation is greater than occurs on average for urban rail projects, the reality is that the average North American urban rail project costs over 40 percent more than estimated, and garners 60 per cent less ridership than projected. Voters should be sceptical of rosy forecasts for light rail projects.

Think Tank Pushes Bus 'Brokerage' – December 6, 2012
A new study by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy is urging Saskatchewan's government to convert its subsidized bus company into a brokerage.

Media Release - A New Model For Inter-City Busing Could Restore Services and Lower Prices – November 30, 2012
Inter-city bus service is vital to rural Canada, yet has diminished throughout the country over the last few decades. The old model of cross-subsidizing unprofitable rural routes with profitable urban routes has broken down. The study recommends full liberalization of provincial inter-city bus markets, and the introduction of a least-cost subsidy system for unprofitable, socially desirable routes.

Inter-City Busing – November 30, 2012
Inter-city bus ridership has decreased in Canada over the last several decades. However, the thriving curbside bus industry in the US and in Southern Ontario demonstrates that there is significant growth potential for a liberalized inter-city bus industry. While urban service would increase under liberalization, rural service would likely continue to decrease. To maintain rural ridership, provinces should create a system of least-cost subsidies to ensure that companies are willing to serve otherwise unprofitable, but socially desirable routes.

The Future for Transport to Canada’s North: Airships and Other Options – October 19, 2012
PowerPoint slides which accompanied Barry Prentice's speech The Future for Transport to Canada’s North: Airships and Other Options that he gave in Winnipeg, October 9, 2012.

The Real Time Ridesharing Revolution: Half Time Break – October 4, 2012
David Seymour evaluates his earlier prediction that ubiquitous smart phones will transform the taxi industry by analyzing the current market and regulatory environment.

Airport Policy in Canada – August 23, 2012
Mary Jane Bennett argues that Canada should privatize its airports to reduce passenger loss to the United States and bolster our major airports as hubs of commercial activity.

Media Release - Time to Privatize Canada’s Airports – August 23, 2012
High rents paid to the federal government have forced airports to increase landing fees to uncompetitive levels.