Other PIAC Documents |
![]() |
Tell us your story!
Please contact us with your stories and questions.
|
The Honourable Jean Lapierre (613) 995-0327
Minister of Transport
Place de Ville, Tower C
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0N5
Dear Mr. Lapierre:
Re: Consumer Protection B Airline Passengers
The Canadian Association of Airline Passengers (CAAP) is a coalition of Canadian public interest and consumer organizations who are active in transportation issues associated with airline travel in Canada. The coalition was formed in 1999 to assist in providing the public interest perspective in the resolution of issues associated with the merger of Air Canada and Canadian Airlines. The membership of the organization includes the following organizations:
Air Passenger Safety Group
Canadian Federation of Students
Consumers Association of Canada Saskatchewan
Manitoba Society of Seniors
Ontario Society of Senior Citizens= Organizations
Option Consommateurs
Public Interest Advocacy Centre
Rural Dignity of Canada
Transport 2000
We believe that the there are serious deficiencies in the current regulation of the airline industry in Canada, some of which have been brought to light by the Jetsgo failure and the subsequent impact upon passengers of that airline. We believe that there is a continuing need for the kinds of consumer protection standards associated with the Canadian Airline Passenger Bill of Rights within the carrier license framework, a position that we have previously urged upon your ministry. We are writing today on behalf of CAAP to recommend some immediate and pressing problems
be addressed.
We are increasingly concerned that the actions of your department are exclusively supplier driven. Experience in this, and other jurisdictions, has demonstrated that important public services such as airlines require a clear set of consumer protection rules that will ensure that reasonable customer expectations are met. This is particularly the case in Canada where geography and population size constrain the ability of competition on the basis of quality of service to be effective.
We are writing to request a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss the above. We understand that you have had the benefit of representations from industry stakeholders in relation to the making of airline policy. We wish to ensure that similar access is afforded to the representatives of the Canadian traveling public.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
Original signed
Michael Janigan
Executive Director/General Counsel