In a welcome letter to new Canadian finance minister Chrystia Freeland, the Canadian Business Aviation Association touted the contribution of business aviation to the country’s economy. The letter also pointed out regulatory and legislative restraints that the association says are impeding the industry.

“On behalf of the almost 25,000 people employed by Canada’s $12.1 billion business aviation sector, the Canadian Business Aviation Association most sincerely congratulates you on your appointment as Minister of Finance,” wrote CBAA president and CEO Anthony Norejko. “By way of this letter, it is our honor to introduce you to the business aviation industry.”

The letter shared what it called two “critical facts” about the industry. The first is that business aviation can help “kick start the aviation industry’s recovery by piloting safety and health programs related to rapid testing and contact tracing.” The second is that business aviation “can help enable Canada’s green economy and recovery plan.”

However, Norejko said, “Overly complex regulations, the specter of a new [so-called] luxury tax and a lack of incentives to upgrade or purchase business aircraft are holding us back.”