Nova Scotia air travelers: Beware of high taxes!

Something has got to be done with the high taxation levels for air travelers in Nova Scotia, especially since this mode of transportation is a vital part of the weekly business routine of business consultants, entrepreneurs and CEOs crucial to the economy. Just how bad is it?

Check out how much tax Chronicle Herald columnist Peter Duffy paid for a flight to his hometown of Manchester, England:

Frankly, the price of the ticket came as a bit of a shock: $1,089. When I groused about it to my travel agent, she pointed out that a good percentage of the price isn’t even for the flight; it’s for taxes.

I asked her how much. She listed them for me: HST, airport tax, security tax, fuel surcharge, departure fees — on and on — for a staggering total of $429!

Almost 40 per cent in fees and taxes. Ouch! Made me wish I hadn’t asked.

That is just unacceptable. Think of it this way, on the same flight to Manchester, if you reduced the taxes and fees by fifty per cent, it would save travellers $1,073 on five flights. That's real cash folks.

Almost exactly what they are charging for the "high taxed" flight.

â€$¢â€$¢â€$¢

On a more positive note, it would appear one of the Atlantic provinces is finally heading in the right direction with lower taxes, not to mention, the possibility of getting off the Ottawa dole.

Tao of Steve[s]

Kinsella hits the nail on the head on where the two federal leaders sit, and where their weak constituencies lie. Plus, it's not something that will resolve itself before the fixed 2009 general election (according to Warren). In other words, for these two uncharismatic souls, it's time to stop throwing ground and start gaining ground before it's too late.