Mirabel, Quebec: The City That Defied Liberal Logic

Mirabel, Quebec, a city that once stood as a testament to government overreach, is a fascinating case study in the failure of liberal policies. In the 1970s, the Canadian government, in its infinite wisdom, decided to build the Mirabel International Airport, a project that was supposed to be the crown jewel of North American aviation. The airport was located 39 kilometers northwest of Montreal, and the plan was to make it the primary airport for the region. The government expropriated 97,000 acres of land, displacing thousands of residents and farmers, all in the name of progress. The airport opened in 1975, but it quickly became a symbol of bureaucratic mismanagement and poor planning.

The first reason Mirabel Airport failed was its location. Situated far from Montreal, it was inconvenient for travelers. The government assumed that people would be willing to travel the extra distance for the sake of a modern airport, but they were wrong. Travelers preferred the closer and more accessible Dorval Airport, now known as Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. This miscalculation was a classic example of how government planners often ignore the needs and preferences of the people they claim to serve.

Secondly, the airport was built on the assumption that air traffic would grow exponentially. The government believed that by the year 2000, Mirabel would handle 20 million passengers annually. However, this prediction was wildly optimistic. The anticipated boom in air travel never materialized, and Mirabel's passenger numbers remained dismally low. This overestimation of demand is a common pitfall of central planning, where decisions are made based on projections rather than reality.

Another reason for Mirabel's failure was the lack of supporting infrastructure. The government failed to build adequate transportation links between the airport and Montreal. There was no direct rail link, and the highway connections were insufficient. This oversight made it even more difficult for travelers to reach the airport, further discouraging its use. It's a classic case of putting the cart before the horse, where the government focused on building a grand airport without considering how people would actually get there.

The financial cost of Mirabel was astronomical. The project cost over $500 million, a staggering amount at the time. This money could have been better spent on improving existing infrastructure or addressing other pressing needs. Instead, it was poured into a project that was doomed from the start. This waste of taxpayer dollars is a prime example of how government projects can spiral out of control when there is no accountability or oversight.

Mirabel also highlights the dangers of government expropriation. Thousands of people were forced off their land to make way for the airport. This heavy-handed approach not only disrupted lives but also destroyed communities. The government's disregard for individual property rights is a chilling reminder of what can happen when the state is given too much power.

The airport's eventual closure in 2004 was a tacit admission of failure. The government finally acknowledged that Mirabel was a mistake, and all passenger flights were moved back to Dorval. The airport now serves as a cargo hub and a location for film shoots, a far cry from its original purpose. This outcome is a stark reminder of the consequences of poor planning and government overreach.

Mirabel, Quebec, stands as a cautionary tale of what happens when grandiose government projects are pursued without regard for practicality or the will of the people. It's a lesson in the dangers of central planning and the importance of respecting individual rights and market forces. The story of Mirabel is one that should be remembered whenever the government proposes another ambitious project that promises the world but delivers little.