ABSTRACT
Canada’s air traffic services had historically been provided by Transport Canada as a governmental function. Canada’s airline deregulation in the mid-1980s spurred rapid growth in air traffic, especially in major cities such as Toronto. At the same time, federal government fiscal constraints led to major budget cuts, including the air navigation system. Of particular concern was a growing shortage of air traffic controllers at key locations. This resulted in major delays to airlines and to business aviation. The air traffic controllers’ union began to raise concerns that the rising workload, required overtime, and reduced budgets were affecting safety.
