Why Canadian flight are so expensive

I do not mind to paid my fare share to have our Country run properly but there is a very huge difference between here and South of the boarder, I try to book a flight for 3 to Las Vegas from Vancouver and the best price I fund for the 3 of us in October is $1080.00 with Westjet flight only, Air Canada was worst , I finally book in Bellingham direct flight same date, better time slot for $416,00 (for the 3 of us, including all taxes, baggages fee and all! ).

I would like to know why could we have a smaller Airport closer to the boarder as we are loosing all direct flight to San Francisco, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas..., to a small US airport on the boarder are they just more clever or as Canadians we do not care?,  are we so rich ???