NDP critic calls proposed changes to air passenger rights 'bureaucratic, expensive'

The NDP transport critic is calling out proposed changes to air passenger protections as the transportation minister defendsthe government's approach to making air travel fairer for passengers.

The government tableda range of amendments to the Canada Transportation Actlast week. They includea tenfold increase in the maximumfine an airline can face for violations from $25,000 to $250,000.

The amendments also would make compensation for airline passengers for flight disruptions mandatory, though there will be a rangeof exceptions the government hasn't announcedyet. The amendments are part of the government's budget billand would come into effect on Sept. 30, 2023 if the bill passes.

The proposed changes came after tens of thousands of passengers filed complaints about the spring and holiday travel seasons last year. In response to the outrage, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra promised changes to the government's passenger bill of rights, which came into effect in 2019.

Critics had said the protections were not effective. The Canada Transportation Agency (CTA), the quasi-judicial body responsible for adjudicating issues related to air travel, is dealing with a backlog of tens of thousands of complaints. Alghabra said last month that the number sits atmore than40,000.

NDPtransport critic Taylor Bachrach said Monday thegovernment's proposed reforms are unlikely to make travel easier for passengers, and criticized the government for not adopting the European Union's air passenger protection rules.

"The Liberals have chosen to double down on an approach that's complex, bureaucratic and expensive," Bachrach tolda news conference.

"As a result, we're not confident that it's going to be a significant improvementand that we're going to see measured progress in terms of protecting air passengers in Canada."

WATCH|NDP transport critic 'disappointed' by proposed updates to air passenger bill of rights

NDP transport critic 'disappointed by proposed updates to air passenger bill of rights

1 year ago

Duration 2:30

NDP transport critic Taylor Bachrach says the proposed updates to the air passenger bill of rights will create a situation that will make it likely to see more air passengers sleeping on airport floors and out thousands of dollars.

The European Union's air passenger rights regimeentitles passengers to either automatic financial compensation or a rebookedflight if a flight is delayed and cancelled, with only a small number of exceptions for airlines.

In a report released last week, the House of Commons standing committee on transport, infrastructure and communities made 21 recommendations to strengthenair passenger protectionsin Canada. Among them were a recommendation to establish a passenger right to direct financial compensation from airlines and a recommendation to make the complaints process simpler.

Bachrach said the government chose not to adopt the committee'srecommendationsor to listen to advice from consumer advocacy organizations.

"They've put us in a position where we're likely to see more air passengers sleeping on airport floors and out thousands of dollars because of the behaviour of Canada's airlines," he said.

"It's really unclear why the Liberals have ignored the example that has worked so well in Europe for over a decade."

Bachrach said he worriesthatairlines willdeny passengers compensation even for situations that are within an airline'scontrol. He added that eventhe passengers whodo go through the complaints process don't always see compensation.

Though he welcomed the increase in fines, he said he's not confident they'll motivate airlines to improve their service.

"So far, we haven't seen fines used as an effective tool," Bachrach said.

Conservative transport critic Mark Strahl also blasted the proposed changes, saying Canada's federal transportation system is"an international embarrassment."

"During the holiday season, families were left stranded for days sleeping on floors at airports and rail stations across the country. Now, 45,000 Canadians are stuck in an 18-month long line just to have their complaints heard by Trudeau's government," Strahl said in a media statement.

"The nightmare of our transportation system is only furthering under this Liberal government's watch and this latest announcement will do nothing to change that."

Minister says changes will improve air travel

In a news conference Monday, Alghabrasaid he's confident the proposed reforms will make air travel less frustrating for passengers.

"I would argue that this new proposal is tougher than the EU, and I would argue that it is tougher than the United States," he said.

Alghabra said the new rules will put an onus onairlines to showflight disruptionsarecaused by safety concerns or reasons outside their control.

"This means there will be no more loopholes where airlines can claim a disruption is caused by something outside of their control for a security reason when it's not," Alghabra said at the news conference.

"And it will no longer be the passenger who will have to prove that he or she is entitled to compensation. It will now be the airline that will need to prove that it does not have to pay for it."

WATCH|Transportministerproposes updates toairpassenger billofrights

Transport minister proposes updates to air passenger bill of rights

1 year ago

Duration 1:29

Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says the proposal will see airlines responsible for compensating passengers for delays but will include exceptions to the rule, such as weather-related delays.

Alghabra did saythe government willintroduce a range of exceptions for airlines later in the year, following a consultation period.He didnot say what the exceptions would be, but said a snowstorm which disrupts travel would be oneexample.

"Airlines are not responsible for a snowstorm ... I think Canadians understand when there's a snowstorm," he said.

The federal government announced $75.9 millionlast month to help theCTA clear the complaints backlog.

But Alghabra said the government's proposed changes, including the stiffer fines, will also ease the pressure on the CTA.

"It's in the airlines' vested interest that they deal with [complaints] before they go to the CTA," Alghabra said.

"Hopefully, we can see that backlog get dealt with much quicker."

Airline industry pushes back on proposed changes

Jeff Morrison, president and CEO of the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC), said the government's approach is not the best way to address issues with air travel.

"The best passenger protection regime is a system in which travel disruptions are minimized. Nothing in these legislative changes will accomplish that," Morrison said in a statement.

"On the other hand, targeted infrastructure funding, re-investment of airport rent, increasing the accountability of third party service providersand reduction of costs and fees would strengthen the system."

Morrison said the NACC has many concerns with the legislation, includingthe possibilitythat airlines mightbe penalizedfor cancelling a flight because ofa government travel advisory. He saidairlines are taking on a disproportionate amount of the blame for travel issues.

"The failure to expand accountability and data sharing for any other organization in the air travel system, despite the fact that many travel disruptions are caused by these entities, will mean that the air travel system overall will not improve," he said.

"We call on the federal government to work with us to create a stronger, more competitive air travel system for all passengers, rather than continue to wrongly single out one entity in [the] air travel chain."