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Montreal and Toronto city councils are debating motions this week that, if approved, would voice official opposition to the privatization of Canadian airports.

“The Canadian model of airline governance works,” said Snowdon councillor Marvin Rotrand. The government earns rent from the not-for-profit organizations that manage airports, he explained, and the system “provides relatively good services, safe and secure passage and it is seen by other countries as a model that they should be moving toward.”

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Airports serve a key economic function for cities, said Rotrand, who is presenting his motion against airport privatization to the Montreal city council Tuesday. Toronto’s city council will be debating the issue on Thursday, according to Toronto city councillor Joe Mihevc. It’s no coincidence the motions are going forward in the same week, Mihevc noted, as there is growing concern among municipal officials nationwide.