The Victoria Airport Authority says the new parking contract provides best value to the public, according to an article in the June 5 Peninsula News Review. The best value to the public would be reduced parking fees.
It was not all that long ago short short-term fees were $1. Prior to March 1, 2025, it was $2. Now it is $4. In the VAA annual report for 2023, concession revenue led by parking was up 27% over the previous year. Daily rates are $18 per day for five days and $9 per day thereafter, so to go away for a 14-day vacation costs you $180 with GST.
Are we going to see a reduction in parking fees as a result of the awarding of the parking services contract to an American firm? I very much doubt that. To believe that will happen is to believe an ad for swampland in Florida is waterfront vacation property.
Were there no bidders from within Canada other than Roberts? In the current environment this is a very anti-Canadian move with questionable “best value” to the public.
We need to bear in mind that Transport Canada feeds taxpayer dollars into airports in this country, and the VAA in February 2024 increased fees payable by passengers from $15 per ticket to $25 per ticket in an increasing passenger-volume world.
Alex Currie
North Saanich
