Former Conception Bay South (C.B.S.) mayor Woodrow French is in Halifax to present at a hearing being held today by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) about the air passenger protection regulations, being created as part of a new provision of the Canadian Transportation Act.
The proposed air passenger protection regulations are intended to set clear obligations for airlines with regards to cancellations, delays, including those on the tarmac, denied boarding (bumping flights), lost baggage, seating children with parents/guardians, communication, etc. The new regulations are designated as the minimum standard of treatment.
French has been advocating for an air passenger bill of rights since he was mayor of CBS in 2006, when multiple flights to Newfoundland were terminated in Halifax over Christmas, stranding people for the holidays.
After bringing the motion forward, it was lobbied by the CTA, and has resulted in the new air passenger protection regulations.
“One of the things that concerns me right off the get go is that the piece of legislation is called ‘air passenger protection regulations,’” says French, “When you look at the way it’s written, it still doesn’t talk about passenger rights.”
“All bearing in mind we have no control over the weather,” French says, acknowledging that many delayed and cancelled flights to Newfoundland are the result of unavoidable weather situations, making treatment of passengers in these situations a top priority for him.
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The new regulations will still allow for passengers to be held on the tarmac for up to three hours, something that could prove problematic with the limited tank size of airplane washroom facilities and the amount of food and water on board.
French is hoping that his presentation at the Halifax hearing will make it clear negative airplane situations need to be addressed in the regulations.
“I’m going to ask for stronger language that protects us as passengers,” says French.
French believe that it should be the airline’s responsibility to deal with customers in a timely and directly, rather than through call centres.
“I think we have got an opportunity to get this right now with the support of the minister [Marc Garneau] through the CTA to get what Canadians deserve,” says French, despite mentioning concern that the only hearing in Atlantic Canada is taking place in Halifax making it difficult for residents of Newfoundland to attend and potentially ignoring the geographic isolation of provinces not connected to mainland Canada.
“Hopefully, it will have some impact on what they’re going to legislate,” French says of his planned presentation.
