Airline fees, services, advertising and on-time performance

PIAC's Michael Janigan wants
stronger consumer protection for
Canadian airline passengers. 

In testimony to the Senate earlier this month the Public Interest Advocacy Centre outlined basic problems with the way Canadian airlines do business.

The industry is constantly changing the terms and conditions of fares. Advertised prices are misleading.  Smaller cities are not well-served the consumer watchdog group said.

There is no financial monitoring of the airlines. When an airline goes bankrupt there is no guarantee that pre-paid ticket holders will be reimbursed, Michael Janigan, general counsel of the Public Industry Advocacy Centre, said in his Apr. 3  testimony to the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications.


The American government reports on airline performance and enforces basic rights. The Canadian government does not report on lost luggage, on-time performance and other information which could help consumers.


The government's Flight Rights Canada is not much more than a recitation of airline policy.

PIAC's Janigan called for "at a minimum for an Airline Users Council to provide push back on behalf of consumers and to make inroads on what appears to be a state of bureaucratic lethargy or regulatory capture. And while the finances of some airlines are less than robust, the record appears to indicate that customer dissatisfaction is hardly the recipe for financial success in the long term."

Speaking Notes

Passenger transportation service cuts, Crude oil moving by rail

Transit City was declared dead by Toronto Mayor
Rob Ford the day after his election in 2010.
On April 25 an Ontario government agency
Metrolinx rubber stamped city council's
 resurrection decision.

Greyhound cuts hurt Saskatchewan bus system, Real money not fairy dust for transit, Le FESTIRAIL 2012 de Charny est en plein essor, Crude oil moving by rail on NB Southern and more in today's Transport Action Canada Hotline.

Saskatchewan Transportation Company, Ridership up but intersecting Greyhound network cuts bode ill for future

"Despite increased ridership and total revenue, the government-owned Saskatchewan Transportation Co. reported a loss of $299,000 on its operations last year, says its annual report, which also paints a worrisome picture of what's ahead. … The report predicted a drop in passengers caused by Greyhound's decision to drop service between Calgary and Alsask. A firm from Alsask replaced Greyhound, but STC said it "does not expect to fully re-establish the yearly ridership of approximately 12,000 passengers that were previously using the Saskatoon-Alsask-Calgary route." Greyhound's decision to cut service along the TransCanada Highway (to two trips daily from three) and from Edmonton to Saskatoon cut into STC's revenues from Greyhound ticket commissions and express business," Will Chabun reported for the Leader Post on Apr. 19. http://is.gd/KEC6hX

Saskatchewan shortlines share $700k in grants

"The $700,000 is welcome in keeping our shortlines going," said Tim Coulter of Briercrest, president of the Producer Car Shippers of Canada, a group of farmers who load grain onto producer cars, which are then transported by shortlines to mainline railways. "Once it's divvied out to all the shortlines, it doesn't amount to much, especially when you consider $700,000 only covers a mile of paved highway in Saskatchewan,"  the Leader Post reported on April 19.  http://is.gd/i665Yd

ONR fight far from over

Canadians support national passenger rail system

Canadian government may sell The Canadian.
(Pic traingeek.ca)

There is a deep base of support for Canada's national passenger rail system. The rationale for passenger rail is powerful. But passenger rail in Canada is under threat.

On Apr. 23 the Globe and Mail reported: "Transport Canada is circulating four options, including privatizing VIA’s Toronto-Vancouver Canadian line, privatizing its Jasper-Vancouver service, reducing VIA’s service to “low-mid level” by selling off its deluxe cars and luxury offerings or having VIA recoup a greater share of its costs for the Jasper-Vancouver line."

Updated: Aug. 2012: Brown envelope copy of briefing note for Minister's Dec. 1, 2012 meeting with The Rocky Mountaineer. 

A top government source subsequently told Transport Action there is support for Via Rail within the ruling Conservative party. The source asks why the government would put $1 billion into something only to scrap it. Officially the government has no plan to sell Via Rail.

Transport Action Canada supports the national passenger rail system. The organization is exploring funding a Blue Sky Vision for Via Rail. 

The volunteer group is also asking for donations.

It is calling on Canadians to let MPs know we support Via Rail. 

Members of Parliament, Contact info

In the wake of the the Globe and Mail report Transport Action activists offered up the following comments. 

Transportation and Transit Forum Coming to Markham, Ontario

Where will the money come from to
build the transit systems needed in
the Greater Toronto Area?

Grassroots Organizations Press for Clarity on Funding Mechanisms 

(May 20 See report on forum)

MARKHAM, ON -  April 25, 2012   - Five grassroots groups are  hosting an important  public forum on transportation and transit in the Golden Horseshoe Area of Ontario to review potential funding tools for transportation and transit plans.

What:  Moving Forward - A Public Forum on Transportation and Transit Transportation and Transit Forum 

Markham Civic Centre – Council Chambers 

101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham, ON

May 12, 2012 1:00 – 3:45  p.m.   

Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods of Ontario (F.U.N.) 

Transport Action Ontario (TAO) 

Markham Action Group for Improved Community (MAGIC) 

Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Associations (FoNTRA) 

Mississauga Residents’ Associations Network (MIRANET) 

Ottawa valley railway plans to be operating in the fall

CN wants to donate its railway line
 west of  Ottawa to a non-profit
community organization.

(Campbell’s Bay, QC, April 23, 2012)  The not-for-profit Transport Pontiac-Renfrew (TPR) has provided a progress report including information on a new Board structure and final timelines for the pending acquisition of the CN Beachburg Subdivision railway line. 

In an April 19th briefing session for elected officials and representatives from the municipalities through which the line runs, existing TPR executives presented a well structured overview of its developing plan.

“The briefing brought our municipal stakeholders up to date,” says TPR Director, Louise Donaldson. “TPR is hoping to be operating by November assuming the current timetable remains in tact.”

Transit area-benefiting tax, dedicated sales tax ou utilisateur-payeur

Normand Parisien from Transport 2000 Québec
is calling for a freeze on transit fare increases.

Prairie freight rates post-CWB, Ontario Northland, Not for sale, Sustainable Transportation Indicators for TDM Planning, Via Rail TGV 3h30 min entre Montréal et Toronto et plus in this week's Transport Action Hotline.

Transport 2000, La hausse des tarifs dans le transport en commun?

«Selon nous, à Transport 2000, on a trop recouru au principe de l'utilisateur-payeur dans le transport en commun, indique M. Parisien, de telle sorte que, maintenant, on en vient à étouffer la demande.» Transport 2000 Québec … rappelle que, depuis 2006, le gouvernement du Québec a entrepris de réinvestir dans le développement des services de transport en commun, ainsi que d'étendre ce concept aux transports collectifs» Claude Lafleur a écrit pour Le Devoir le 14 avril 2012  

«Il souligne cependant que, au début des années 1990, le gouvernement s'était plutôt retiré du financement de l'exploitation du transport en commun, provoquant de ce fait «un choc tarifaire qui contribuera potentiellement à neutraliser les effets de la nouvelle politique». En conséquence, la première recommandation de Transport 2000, rapporte M. Parisien, est d'instaurer un gel des tarifs pour une période d'au moins trois ans.

«Nous sommes réfractaires à l'augmentation des tarifs puisque, dans la région de Montréal, ceux-ci ont augmenté plus rapidement que l'inflation, dit-il. De plus, on sait qu'il y a une relation inverse entre la hausse du prix et la demande d'un bien ou d'un service. On observe ainsi qu'en Amérique du Nord, pour toute hausse d'un point de pourcentage, il y a une baisse de 0,4 % de la demande.»  Le Devoir a rapporté. http://is.gd/cnudXT

TransLink upgrades derailed, An "area-benefiting tax" 

"TransLink on Tuesday announced it will postpone its scheduled transit expansion plans, including a B-Line bus service along King George Boulevard and a rapid bus on Highway 1 over the Port Mann until it can find alternative funding sources to pay for them," Kelly Sinoski wrote for the Vancouver Sun.

TransLink CEO Ian Jarvis said TransLink is exploring the option of levying "an area-benefiting tax" - a differential tax on home or property owners who would see a substantial lift in their land values because of transit improvements - as a way to generate funding for capital projects," the Vancouver Sun reported on April 18. http://is.gd/bQWv5J

Spacing Toronto, 74% of GTA support regional sales tax dedicated to transit

New above-ground subways for Toronto, Le Colloque ferroviaire annuel du Québec

CAPT opposes the Ontario government's
plan to privatize the ONTC. 

A diverse and growing coalition wants to keep the Ontario Northland public,  Le Colloque ferroviaire annuel fut un succès sur toute la ligne and more in this week's Hotline. 

Transport Action BC praises investment in Vancouver Island railway

"The government of Canada announced its half of the $15 million to save and rehabilitate the Vancouver Island Railway. The railway owned by the Island Corridor Foundation has been gradually deteriorating. VIA Rail passenger service was cancelled last year due to poor track conditions. The other half of the money was committed by the BC government with $500,000 of that money used for an inspection of the bridges. The results of the study have just been released. 

Transport Action is pleased to see the governments make investments in rail infrastructure, and is happy that the actions of everyone who contacted their MP or MLA made a difference," Matthew Buchanan, president of Transport Action BC reported on Apr. 12. http://is.gd/a0sJ6L

Transport Action, Moving Forward: A Public Forum about Transportation 

Transport Action Ontario is co-hosting a half-day public forum on May 12, 2012. The purpose is to educate and empower community leaders (ratepayer associations) and elected officials on the problems of transportation congestion, the solutions, and especially the funding challenges in building the additional infrastructure.  High profile speakers and expert panellists will discuss these aspects.  This will be an interactive forum, with several opportunities for the public to provide feedback and ask questions. 

Speakers and panelists include:

Frank Scarpitti, Mayor of Markham (see report on his plan below) 

John Howe, Vice President, Metrolinx

Matti Siemiatycki, University of Toronto

Richard Joy, Toronto Board of Trade

Paul Bedford, "Urban Mentor"

Eric Miller, Director, Cities Centre, University of Toronto

Roger Keil, Director, Cities Institute, York University

Due to limited seating, participation is by registration. There is no fee. Advanced registration is now available to Transport Action members.  For further information and to register, go to http://www.urbanneighbourhoods.ca

Clean Train Coalition calls for an "above-ground subway" from airport to downtown Toronto

Ontario cell phone consumer protection bill

"We want a thriving rivalry in
the wireless market," says
PIAC's Michael Janigan.
(CBC photo) 

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) welcomes today's introduction of legislation to  control consumer unfriendly practices in the cell phone industry. 

PIAC notes that this step mirrors efforts in other provinces such as Manitoba and Quebec to prevent wireless providers from enforcing contractual terms that are unreasonable and anti-competitive. 

“We want a thriving rivalry in the wireless market," said Michael Janigan, Executive Director and General Counsel of PIAC, "not one where customers are locked into plans and contracts that no longer serve their needs and are one-sided in favour of the provider."

Clean Train Coalition Supports Motion on Toronto Air Rail Link

Clean Train Coalition urges
the Ontario government to
integrate the Pearson Airport to
Union Station link with Toronto's
mass transit system.

TORONTO – Today, Toronto City Council will vote on a motion requesting the Government of Ontario to build the Airport Rail Link (ARL) as a frequent, affordable, multi-stop electric transit service for Torontonians.

"We applaud this initiative by Councillor Frances Nunziata with strong backing from Councillor Mike Layton", says Carina Cojeen, co-chair of the Clean Train Coalition (CTC). "This motion embodies the transit vision that we have heard from residents in the transit-deficient communities along the rail corridor, who want all levels of government to invest in clean, efficient and effective transit now."

CTC research director Greg Gormick adds, "Premier Dalton McGuinty has called upon Mayor Rob Ford and Toronto City Council to act together to set transit investment priorities. Here is an innovative example of how that can be done. At relatively little added expense, the revised, rapid transit-style ARL will deliver a quick win for Toronto and the Province by creating what amounts to an above-ground subway. This is a golden transit opportunity."

LRT and transit in Alberta, les trains de passagers

Mobility pricing conference in Toronto on May 31.

Transport Canada aviation safety operation has no rationale and no minimum mandate, Dietrich Bergmann, TransLink ridership up 8.6 per cent in 2011 and more news in today's Transport Action Hotline.

Ontario Northland workers say Northern Ontario needs passenger rail investment

"Moving forward in the fight to save the ONTC from being divested General Chairperson’s Association President Brian Kelly debunked Premier Dalton McGuinty’s numbers … “The truth is ridership has seen increases year over year in all passenger services. The Northlander ridership in 2009/10 was 31,746 and it increased by 10% in 2010/11 to 34,959. This year, ending March 31, ridership count is expected to jump an additional 16% to 40,552 riders,”  Kate Adams wrote for North Bay today on Apr. 5. http://is.gd/bIFTHH

Coalition for Algoma Passenger Trains http://captrains.ca/ says the Ontario Northland is not for sale. ONTC workers have a Facebook page at http://is.gd/1qx1ei

Regulator denies P.E.I.-N.B. shuttle service bid

"Energy and Utilities Board has denied the application from a Summerside-based company to start up a shuttle service between New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. … Advanced Shuttle Services proposed to run two shuttles which would leave P.E.I. and make stops in Port Elgin, Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton. David Anderson, the company's owner, had proposed starting with four days a week, 11 passengers per shuttle," CBC News reported on Apr. 5.

Meanwhile PEI and New Brunswick remain without interurban bus service as the lockout of Acadian coach lines workers heads towards it sixth month. Transport Action Atlantic leaders are calling on governments to support the industry and the people who depend on buses to get around. http://is.gd/F2cu2e

Budget fédéral et réseau des trains de passagers Via Rail

Ontario Northland not for sale, La Société de transport de l'Outaouais

Northern Ontario vows to fight hard to
keep the rail and passenger bus service public. 

Federal budget cuts Via Rail, devra se serrer la ceinture, Ontario budget privatizes Ontario Northland,  BC Premier doesn't get transit and Rapibus reports in this week's Transport Action Hotline

Federal budget, Transport Canada hit hard

"The transport portfolio was one of the hardest hit in the (budget) downsizing effort. In total, cuts in federal transportation-related activities will amount to $153 million, or 10.7 per cent of total annual spending, by 2014-15. Among the victims was Transport Canada, whose annual budget will be decreased by $62 million. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority will see its annual expenditures shrink by $60 million. At Via Rail, annual expenditures will be cut by $19.6 million. The savings at Via will come thanks to reduced maintenance costs and energy consumption, the government said," Andy Riga wrote for the Montreal Gazette on March 30.

"At the same time, Ottawa is giving Via Rail $105 million in 2012-13 to help the national passenger rail service improve tracks and signalling systems, repair stations and invest in new technologies," the Gazette reported. http://is.gd/aG7fcb

VIA Rail devra se serrer la ceinture