Nelson Sergerie, LJI Journalist
GASPÉ – After months of waiting, the Quebec government is finally launching its expanded, simplified version 2.0 of the Regional Air Access Program (PAAR), hoping that it will stimulate air traffic in Quebec’s regions. “We are setting the table to improve the situation for all carriers who would like to improve their offer,” says the head of air transportation for the CAQ (Coalition Avenir Québec) government and Member of the National Assembly for René-Lévesque, Yves Montigny, who travelled to Gaspé on December 10 to announce the new version with the Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault.
“We want to put the best model in place to allow markets to develop and operate on their own in the long term,” adds Mr. Montigny. Among the new features, the “$500” tickets are being eliminated to make way for a discount modulated according to distance, between 50% and 85%. According to the Québec government, from Gaspé, the discount percentage will be increased from 30% to 50%.
A Gaspé-Montreal flight that cost around $915, came to $640. As of February 3, the date of implementation of the adjusted version of the PAAR, the flight will only cost $500.
Another change is that the two current programs are merged into one, and instead of having to fill out documents to recover the credits, they will be directly reflected in the cost of the ticket with the carrier. There is also no longer a limit to the number of trips for one person. Tickets will no longer be offered only to go to Quebec City or Montreal. Discounts can apply to flights between regions or intraperitoneally.
“We are creating better conditions to have more flights for all Quebec citizens, both to go from the regions to the major centres, from the major centres to the regions, but also from one region to another,” says Mr. Montigny.
Non-profit organizations and also student trips will now be eligible for version 2.0, However, business clientele will not be entitled to it, even though the Fédération des Chambres de Commerce du Québec demanded it.
“For people who travel for work, there is the whole issue of fly-in, fly-out. I don’t think it’s the government’s role to fund workers to get to work. We can’t pay for all of Quebec’s tickets. We have to draw a line somewhere,” explains the Minister of Transport.
The first version of the PAAR, which began in June 2022, was budgeted at $50 million per year. For 2024-2025, until March 31, 2027, the program is increasing to $59 million per year.
“We were given an additional $9 million each year,” comments the minister.
In addition, the program will allow people to book their tickets more than six months in advance, which is not currently possible.
According to the Quebec government, the changes made take into account not only the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Regional Air Transport, in place since winter 2023, but also the concerns of the various regional stakeholders. The president of the UMQ Air Transport Committee and mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté, welcomes the progress made by Quebec, criticizing Ottawa for its inaction.
“In the current state of affairs, we welcome what the Quebec government is doing, unlike the federal government, which is adding new standards and new constraints that cost carriers and airport managers money, but does nothing concrete,” says Mr. Côté
Regulating regional air transport is once again mentioned, but Daniel Côté is giving the runner a chance with version 2.0 of the program.
“If demand really increases with this incentive, we will bet that supply will follow. We are stimulating demand to create additional supply. We would be on a good trend but I continue to believe that the convincing solution in the medium and long term would be to regulate the markets, but carriers are cautious, but we need them to offer the service,” continues the mayor.
In the current context, the mayor believes that if carriers generate more profits, services will improve. “What we would like is for services to be adapted to the needs of the population. Currently, when we leave Gaspé in the late afternoon and return in the morning, it does not meet our needs. We need to leave in the morning to return in the evening. If we have to sleep outside before returning, it is not profitable for the region,” believes the mayor of Gaspé.
“The federal government would be able to put a few million to do similar work to improve what Quebec is doing, but it is radio silence,” repeats the mayor.
In October, Federal Member of Parliament Diane Lebouthillier indicated that the federal government considers the organization of flights a provincial responsibility, with the federal government acting mainly in terms of security.