Category: Transport Minister

Air Passenger Complaints Triple in One Year to Pass 42,000 as Backlog Grows

The number of air passenger complaints to Canada’s transport regulator is soaring, more than tripling to 42,000 over the past year. The growing backlog means each case now needs more than a year and a half to handle, spurring advocates and politicians to question the entire process. NDP transport critic Taylor Bachrach plans to table…


Increasing Frustration With Lengthy Processing of Air Passenger Complaints: CTA Survey

A growing number of Canadians are dissatisfied with the time it takes to resolve air passenger complaints, according to four internal surveys conducted by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA). The CTA is responsible for enforcing rules that require an airline to compensate passengers when a flight is delayed or cancelled for a reason within the airline’s control….


Canada-Palestine MP Group to ‘Review’ After Accused ‘Holocaust Denier’ Attended Event

A spokesman for the chair of an all-party parliamentary group says it is “carefully” reviewing how it handles events with outside guests after a newspaper publisher accused of holding antisemitic views took part in a recent gathering. Members of Parliament from all parties, including Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, attended a gathering this week hosted by…


Government Not Responsible for Airport Delays, Transport Minister Says

The federal government was not responsible for airport delays, which were instead caused by labour shortages and an influx of Canadians looking to travel after certain COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted earlier this year, says Transport Minister Omar Alghabra. “I blame it on COVID,” said Alghabra while appearing before the House of Commons transport committee…


More Industrial Action to Cause Extensive Train Delays in New South Wales

New South Wales commuters are likely to face extensive delays in their train services the coming Wednesday and Friday as the transport union threatens further strike action, which has been criticised by the government as being “politically motivated.” Up to 75 percent of peak-hour rail services have been reduced later this week after the NSW…


Too Early to Set a Date on Loosening Travel Restrictions: Canada’s Transport Minister

OTTAWA—Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says he cannot yet commit to a date—or COVID-19 vaccination rate benchmarks—for when so-called vaccine passports will allow Canada to ease travel restrictions. Speaking at a virtual news conference today, he says decisions around the hotel quarantine for air passengers and eventual reopening of the border will hinge on public health…


Travel Industry ‘In Tailspin’ as Feds Adopt New COVID-19 Test Rules

CALGARY—The travel industry in Canada has been thrown into a “tailspin” by new federal rules requiring a COVID-19 test before Canadians are allowed back into the country from most international travel, says the Association of Canadian Independent Travel Advisors. The timing of Transport Minister Marc Garneau’s announcement of the new protocol last Thursday—New Year’s Eve—could…