Minister of Transport announces additional funding for the Canadian Transportation Agency to help clear the backlog of air passenger complaints
News release
March 14, 2023 Ottawa Transport Canada
The air sector plays a crucial role in connecting Canadians from coast to coast to coast and to the world. The sector also helps create good, middle-class jobs and build an economy that works for everyone. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, recovery has been difficult, and travellers have experienced many flight delays and cancellations that are unacceptable. These travellers have rights, and the Government of Canada will continue to ensure that they are respected by the airlines.
Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honorable Omar Alghabra, announced $75.9 million in additional funding over three years, starting in 2023-24, to ensure the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) has the resources to address passenger rights complaints, and strengthen the operation of the federal transportation network, enabling the Agency to efficiently deliver on its mandate for Canadians. For example, the new funding will make it possible to hire more employees to deal with complaints.
In 2019, for the first time in Canadian history, an air passenger rights regime, called the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), was implemented to clarify minimum requirements and compensation based on whether an airline has control over the disruption or not. During the pandemic, the government strengthened these rights to include refunds for situations outside the airline’s control, including major weather events or a pandemic.
The funding announced today will help strengthen passenger rights by giving the Agency additional resources to carry out its mandate and reduce the backlog of existing complaints.
The Government of Canada is also working on significant reforms to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations to ensure passenger rights are even more protected. These changes will place Canada at the forefront of passenger protections globally and, together with other steps to be taken, will help prevent the frustrating passenger experiences of last summer and over the holiday season.
Quotes
“Travellers have rights, and these rights must be respected by airlines. When airlines do not provide the reimbursement or compensation to which travellers are entitled, the Canadian Transportation Agency is there to ensure passenger rights are respected. Today's announcement helps give the Agency more resources to deal with complaints and ensure the rules are respected. Our government also continues to work to strengthen and clarify travellers’ rights.”
The Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport
Quick facts
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The Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal and regulator with the mandate to help ensure that the national transportation system runs efficiently, smoothly and is accessible in the interests of all Canadians.
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The Agency is responsible for enforcing the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, which came fully into force in 2019.
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In 2022, new regulations on refund requirements for flight cancellations or lengthy delays outside of an air carrier’s control came into force.
Contacts
Nadine Ramadan
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
Nadine.Ramadan@tc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Transport Canada
media@tc.gc.ca
613-993-0055
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