score:14
As far as I'm aware there are not currently any really low cost airlines in Canada. But there seem to be a few in the pipeline:
WestJet and Air Canada Rouge are I think currently generally the lowest cost airlines in Canada but they are not really budget airlines.
Upvote:8
There are several lower cost airlines already operating in Canada, but no ULCCs on par with Ryanair. In eastern Canada, where distances are shorter there tends to be more competition, here are the airlines on these routes:
Elsewhere in North America you'll find your $29 flights. As you say, "is budget not a thing North America?" Canada isn't all of North America. Budget / ULCC airlines are a thing in the US and Mexico (Spirit, Frontier, Volaris, Vivaaerobus, Interjet, Vivacolombia to Florida, Norwegian from the US to the EU parts of the Caribbean...). Spirit and Allegiant specifically serve airports close to major Canadian cities (for instance Niagra Falls New York for Toronto, Plattsburgh New York for Montreal, Bellingham Washington for Vancouver) but mostly for flights to further south in the US and not east-west connections.