Ottawa-imposed 'airport rent' is driving up cost of plane tickets, think tank finds - "The average airport improvement fee charged on a Canadian domestic flight is $38, according to Westjet . This is twice the corresponding Australian fee and four times more than what U.S. air travellers pay on their tickets. Canadian air travellers also pay higher airport security charges and, indirectly, aviation fuel excise taxes than their Australian and U.S. peers. All told, MEI found that government-imposed taxes, fees and rent charges made up as much as 43 per cent of ticket prices along major domestic routes. “Reducing the cost of air travel is entirely within Ottawa’s control, because it is Ottawa that is driving prices up in the first place,” said Dagres. Dagres and her colleagues found that the government-levied charges on a Toronto to Montreal flight alone ($68) were enough to pay for a budget flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. This isn’t the first time that Ottawa’s ownership of airport lands has been tied to higher ticket prices. A Senate committee recommended in 2013 that Transport Canada make a plan to phase out rental fees and transfer ownership of airports to the airport authorities that operate them. “Many witnesses raised concerns that these rents do not take into account the differing state and value of airport facilities when they were first transferred to the airport authorities … Since the airport authorities are mandated to be not-for-profit entities, witnesses told the committee that these costs are recovered from users,” wrote committee members in the accompanying report. This recommendation was never followed up on, despite the subsequent spike in rent costs... Polls show that Canadians are largely dissatisfied with the quality and selection of domestic air travel. A recent Leger/National Post study found that half of Canadians are open to allowing U.S.-owned airlines to fly domestic passenger routes in Canada."
Time to blame greedy airline companies for high ticket costs
Jesse Kline: Air Canada strike brought to you by the Liberal government - "For years, the Liberals have worked to increase the power of Canada’s labour unions, and the monster they created is now coming back to bite them as Air Canada’s flight attendants walk off the job, grounding hundreds of flights... The contract between the airline and its flight attendants ended in March , but the union waited until the height of the summer travel season to walk off the job, in a move that has so far affected around 500,000 travellers. Thanks to legislation passed last year that banned the use of replacement workers in federally regulated industries, including air travel, the union knew the airline would have little recourse if its members hit the picket line... after Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu ordered the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to force the flight attendants back to work and send the parties to binding arbitration on Saturday, Mark Hancock, CUPE’s national president, tore up the back-to-work order and vowed to challenge it... The situation highlights the catch-22 the Liberals now find themselves in: their interventionist, pro-labour policies have reduced the incentive for unions to settle disputes at the bargaining table, forcing Ottawa to step in to alleviate the resulting political headache caused by major disruptions in markets that are dominated by a few large players. It’s a classic case of the state stepping in with Big Government policies to fix problems caused by other interventionist measures... the government should follow the advice of its own Competition Bureau, which released a report in the spring advocating for more competition in Canada’s airline market. To be sure, there have been some noticeable improvements in recent years. According to the competition watchdog, thanks to upstart airlines like Porter and Flair, market concentration dropped by 10 per cent between 2019 and 2023. But Air Canada and WestJet still account for between 56 and 78 per cent of all domestic passenger traffic departing from Canada’s major airports. This is a direct result of government policies that favour incumbent carriers, increase costs and limit foreign ownership and competition... New carriers are also constrained by airport procedures, which often favour incumbents. Smaller, secondary airports in major cities can provide consumers and airlines with more options, but are hamstrung by the size of their runways and legal restrictions that only allow one international airport in certain regions. A good example is Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport, which is often cheaper and more convenient than Pearson Airport, but was prevented from hosting long-haul flights when the Liberals kiboshed plans to extend its runway to accommodate passenger jets in 2015. Yet the biggest impediments to airline competition are the government’s restrictions on foreign ownership and its prohibition on foreign carriers flying domestic routes. In 2018, Ottawa increased the share of Canadian airlines that foreigners are allowed to own, but the Competition Bureau doesn’t think it went far enough. It recommends the rules be changed so that a single foreign investor can own up to 49 per cent of a Canadian carrier, and that the government create a new class of airline that can only serve domestic routes but can be fully owned by non-Canadians. The competition watchdog also suggests Ottawa start allowing “airlines from partner countries to fly domestic service within Canada.” This is an idea that was tried in the European Union in the 1990s and it worked spectacularly , leading to a 120 per cent increase in flights within the EU and a 400 per cent increase in routes served by at least two airlines between 1992 and 2008, according to European Commission data. Had something similar been implemented here, we could already be seeing foreign carriers diverting aircraft to Canadian routes to pick up the slack left by the Air Canada strike. For decades, Ottawa has chosen to maintain its protectionist policies, which only serve the interests of Canada’s two largest carriers. But if there was ever a time to institute substantive reforms, now is it. The election of U.S. President Donald Trump has forced Canadians to have a serious discussion about how to attract investment and improve our economy. Opening Canada’s airlines and airports to more competition would help attract foreign capital and make it less expensive for foreigners to come here and spend their money, and for Canadians to travel domestically (at the moment, it’s often cheaper to fly to another country than within Canada)."
Too bad left wingers hate competition and foreigners and love unions more than they love consumers
It's time to delete Tinder and Hinge: Here's the real reason why dating apps are dead - "if Spotify knows I’m experiencing a “dreamy, hazy Tuesday morning” then why can’t a dating app show me someone I’m compatible with? According to sociololist Dr Jennifer Lundquist, an expert in online dating, “most dating algorithms rely heavily on surface-level data” and this doesn’t put into consideration that people are attracted to differences, and they don’t work because they reduce romance to a formula that does not understand “chemistry, timing, or even nuance.”... Plus, there are other apps being used to meet people. Platforms such as Instagram, with its DMs and story replies, have become dating tools. People now meet via applications that weren’t even designed for it — even film platform Letterboxd has become a medium for flirting with strangers. The trick for straight guys is to put a Sofia Coppola movie in their top four and for the girls, a Paul Thomas Anderson flick. (Thank me later!)"
Feminists insisted men flirting with women was sexual harassment, so people had to move to apps
Catch ’em all but dump the fries. Pokémon fans leave McDonald’s Japan in massive food waste drama - "Piles of untouched Happy Meals littered sidewalks outside McDonald’s restaurants in Japan over the weekend, as frenzied customers scrambled to buy limited-edition sets with Pokémon cards. The promotional tie-up between McDonald’s and Pokémon ended just hours after it launched on Saturday as customers bought bulk orders of the meals to get their hands on an exclusive set of cards for resale, discarding the food entirely."
Japanese are becoming like Singaporeans?
Meme - "When u come over?"
"4:32"
"That's very specific. Any particular reason that time"
"If you think about it any time is a specific time. Like 4:00 is a specific time too. So it's no more specific than any other time"
Meme - "Anonymous participant: As a white woman I say Indian men are the hottest"
"Adam Yosef wants to post anonymously."
The instructions on this doormat are the best thing about it - "Important things you should know about your new doormat Warning: Do not use mat as a projectile. Sudden acceleration to dangerous speeds may cause injury. When using mat, follow directions: Put your right foot in, put your right foot out, put your right foot in and shake it all about. This mat is not designed to sustain gross weight exceeding 12,000 lbs. If mat begins to smoke, immediately seek shelter and cover head. Caution: If coffee spills on mat, assume that it is very hot. This mat is not intended to be used as a placemat. Small food particles trapped in fibers may attract rodents and other vermin. Do not glue mat to porous surfaces, such as pregnant women, pets and heavy machinery. When not in use, mat should be kept out of reach of children diagnosed with CRED (Compulsive Fiber Eating Disorder). Do not taunt mat."
Rita Issa on X - "Thinking about my friend who wanted to explore her bisexuality and finally plucked up the courage to go to an ‘introduction to beavers’ workshop at the lesbian camp at a festival we were at, and it was an ecologist talking about beavers (the mammal) for 90 minutes"
Meme - "THESE PICTURES OF HILARY DUFF GIVING A BLOW JOB AFTER GETTING PROPOSED TO ARE THE BEST THING ON THE INTERNET"
Meme - "Tight pussy is not for everyone. Side effects may include:
addiction
excitement
craziness
premature ejaculation
marriage proposal
unplanned parenthood
at times, death
Ask your doctor if tight pussy is right for you."
New York Post on X - "Florida man catches 87 invasive pythons in a month, awarded $1K through state incentive system"
null on X - "Interesting how a snake bounty system works in Florida but backfired in India, I wonder why"
Meme - "When was a kid, I kept wondering why Jessie & James chose to train Lickitung and Weepinbell, but now I understand.
James's Pokemon *Pokemon with big mouth*
Jessie's Pokemon *Pokemon with long tongue, with her lying down in front of it*"
Meme - "BY NOW, OUR MESSAGE SHOULD BE CLEAR. VOTE DEMOCRAT OR ELSE!" *Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton* *Buildings on fire and riots*
Meme - Bird 1: "HERE I GO ON THE DATING APPS AGAIN!"
Bird 2: "DEMI-SEXUAL ENM POLY, SWITCH, LF SAME"
Bird 1: "WHAT?"
Bird 2: "DEMI-SEXUAL ENM POLY, SWITCH, LF SAME"
Bird 1:
Bird 1: "WHAT?"
Meme - "If she doesn't know what time it is. She's too young for you, bro *Power Rangers*"
Meme - "HE PLAYED AS GENIUS WITH NORMAL HAIR *Human-looking Beast*
HE ALSO PLAYED AS GENIUS WITH TOO MUCH HAIR *Beast-looking Beast*
AND NOW HE PLAYS AS GENIUS WITH NO HAIR *Lex Luthor*"
Meme - "My girlfriend chose a work presentation over my mom's funeral, so I ended the relationship
I (29M) lost my mother to c*ancer two and a half weeks ago. She fought hard, but the disease had already spread too far. Her funeral was held earlier this week - one of the hardest days of my life. Before the funeral, I talked to my girlfriend (27F) and asked if she would come with me. Her response? She said she had a work presentation and a handover to complete, so she couldn't make it. I asked if she was seriously prioritizing work over supporting me during the worst moment of my life. I wasn't asking for much - just her presence, her support. I told her she could ask for a day off, use annual leave, even take a sick day. But she refused. She said I was being unfair and guilt-tripping her. That I'd have my family there anyway, so it "shouldn't be a big deal." But it was a big deal to me. The day of the funeral came. She didn't show up. I stood there, burying my mother, knowing the person I loved chose a PowerPoint over being by my side. Later that evening, when I got home, she asked how things went. I told her I didn't want to be with someone who couldn't do the bare minimum to support me when I needed her most. I ended the relationship. She accused me of taking my grief out on her and said she didn't do anything wrong. But in that moment, I realized something: When life gets hard, you need someone who shows up. And she didn't."
Clearly, a toxic manchild who hates women
Meme Windows 7: "DON'T FORCE ME TO INSTALL 10"
2025: Windows 10: "DON'T LEAVE ME"
"Do you use Windows 11 in your country?"
"/int/ernational reminder that no woman will ever look at you like this"
Meme - "The Missing Bell Brewpub
The
NAKED
truth about our
WAITRESSES
is they only
FLIRT WITH YOU
to get a better tip"
Meme - "When I find myself in times of trouble
Gordon Ramsey comes to me
Speaking words of words of wisdom
GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER"
Meme - "You call it trauma, I call it... SPICY MEMORY"
Indian Travel Company Advertises Latvian Women Are Available For Indian Men - "A Delhi travel company called Travel Breed made an advertisement saying that Latvian women are available to Indian men as a way to promote Indians to travel to Latvia. The advertisement, which now has been taken down, shows to be aiming at Indian singles by highlighting Latvia's gender imbalance. According to national statistics, Latvia has a higher proportion of women than men, with about 115 women for every 100 men. The advetisement shows the caption: Ever heard of a country where women outnumber men and are confident enough to make the first move? Welcome to Latvia, one of Europe's most underrated gems -- not just for its eauty, but for its bold and modern social culture! Stunning streets, gothic charm, Baltic coastline, and...a twist in dating norms. Latvian women are known to approach first, making it a destination that's fascinating beyond just travel guides!"
Thread by @SpencerJJoseph on Thread Reader App – Thread Reader App - "Ok, let's do this again. Qatar For Dummies 🧵
1. Qatar is a tiny country with enormous wealth from oil and gas fields. Its 330,000 citizens make up only approx 10 - 15% of the total population, with the vast majority of residents effectively working as slaves ('migrant workers').
2. While residents can apply for citizenship after 25 years in the country, the process is rarely granted and citizenship is primarily inherited from a Qatari father.
3. All broadcasting outlets in Qatar are owned by the state, and most print media outlets have close ties to the government. Al Jazeera was established and is largely funded by the Qatari government to exert regional and international influence. Many privately owned media outlets are also aligned with the government or members of the royal family.
4. Qatar is a major foreign donor to US universities, influencing policy by contributing billions of dollars in recent decades. Some of these donations have gone towards establishing branch campuses of prestigious universities within Qatar, like Weill Cornell Medical College, Texas A&M University, Georgetown University, Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
5. Qatar has been linked to multiple high-profile allegations of bribery or corruption in recent years. One case contributed to the downfall of the Democratic senator Bob Menendez in 2024. Another centred on a group of European parliamentarians in 2022 (Qatargate). Qatar has also faced longstanding allegations surrounding its successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
6. Several influential media figures in America are now believed to be in the pay of Qatar, and numerous lobbying and public relations firms in the US have been employed by Qatar to advance its interests and improve its image. Some of these firms have engaged in actions that have drawn legal scrutiny, including allegedly concealing their work on behalf of Qatar, according to federal prosecutors. Two former Republican political consultants, for example, admitted to deceiving the Justice Department about their lobbying activities for Qatar and concealing their efforts to influence US policy in the Middle East.
7. The Qataris are State financiers of jihad. The country is the world’s leading funder of the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. Qatar is a patron of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and hosts high ranking operatives from Hamas, al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. It is also closely linked with the new (formerly al-Qaeda) government in Syria.
8. Qatar has acquired major brands, real estate and financial assets across The US & Europe. Qatar's acquisition of assets in the US focuses in particular on energy infrastructure and real estate through investments by QatarEnergy and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). Major energy investments include a $10 billion stake in ExxonMobil's Golden Pass LNG terminal and an $8 billion investment in the Golden Triangle Polymers plant.
9. Benjamin Baird’s investigation exposed the full scope of Qatar’s American enterprise : $33.4 billion into businesses and real estate; $6.25 billion to universities; $72 million to lobbyists. This includes QIA's 9.9% stake in Empire State Realty Trust (which owns the Empire State Building), a $700 million office tower in Long Island City, New York, and the $250 million Conrad Washington D.C. hotel.
Qatar is also a major player in European real estate and finance. It is a stakeholder in European financial institutions, including a 12.7% stake in Barclays bank, minority stakes in Credit Suisse Group and Deutsche Bank, and a 10.3% stake in the London Stock Exchange Group.
Reports and government statements from The US and UK have highlighted Qatari fundraising for extremist groups in Europe between 2004 and 2019, some of which had ties to ISIS and radical preachers.
Note : Qatar makes annual contributions to The UN of $100 million + and has co-sponsored 80%+ of anti-Israel resolutions since 2017, per UN data.
Additional note : Russia and Qatar maintain a strong and growing partnership across various sectors, including political, economic, trade and cultural areas."
George won't finish the series but not because he can't : r/freefolk - "I see people saying things like "he doesn't know what he is doing" and "he has far too many loose ends". I don't know if we read the same books but the books clearly shows the old man is smart and capable. He won't write because he has no motivation to do so. Yes he is smart but he has a perfectionist side in him and it will take years and years of dedicated work. He struggled almost his whole life and now he has a huge amount of money and probably small amount of time to spend it. So if it isn't money, what is left? Legacy? HBO left a huge pile of shit on his legacy and keep shitting on it with the new filler series. Conclusion for the series? We want it as readers, not him. No guys. Instead of sitting in a room for years and writing a book like he did for a living for his whole life, George will travel the world, try to breed dire wolfs, participate in movies and games projects and whatever he enjoys."
Meme - George RR Martin: "YOU WORKED ON LORD OF THE RINGS FOR 16 YEARS"
JRR Tolkien: "I WAS A FULLTIME PROFESSOR AT OXFORD. I DID LORD OF THE RINGS IN MY SPARE TIME. WHATS YOUR EXCUSE?"
Meme - Mrs. Information @stephillipss: "Ass inflation is real What was considered a nice butt in the 70’s was a plump, yet modest accessory. It looked cute in jeans- think Jackie Burkhart Post modern ass is not only blatantly large, but it’s all-consuming- loud, uncouth. Still it is acclaimed. We’re living in a time"
Police helicopter targeting cocaine crops downed by drone - "A Colombian drug gang used a drone to shoot down a helicopter transporting police officers targeting cocaine crops, killing 12 officers on board, the nation’s president said. The attack in the northern region of Antioquia on Thursday came just hours before a truck loaded with explosives detonated near a military aviation school in the south-west city of Cali, killing at least six people and injuring more than 60. Gustavo Petro, the country’s president, blamed both attacks on dissident members of the now-defunct Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)."
The British state must trust its people - "A cynic might think that this non-committal approach indicates a Government more comfortable with maintaining a tight grip on the flow of information in controversial cases, rather than in trusting the public to behave responsibly when given access to the truth. As the Southport riots among other events demonstrated, however, the maintenance of an official information vacuum creates room for rumours and misinformation to spread, sometimes with tragic consequences. And as we have seen, also, with the attempts to cover up the grooming gangs scandal, and the mass airlift of Afghans into Britain, that the long-term effect of this approach is to utterly destroy trust in the state institutions engaging in these efforts. This is all the more so given the apparent willingness of agencies to release information when it can assist in shaping a narrative. When a car crashed into crowds in Liverpool earlier this year, Merseyside Police decided to disclose that the arrested man was a white British national. Indeed, this same willingness means that non-disclosure of available information is now taken by some as an indication of a non-white British background... Ultimately, however, the principles of democratic government demand that citizens are kept informed and that the state acts with their consent, rather than attempting to reshape public opinion to its liking."
