The Liberal government is revamping Canada’s air passenger rights regulations, which have been criticized for being ineffective. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon announced measures at Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport, addressing a backlog of nearly 100,000 passenger complaints. Key changes include increasing the maximum fines for airlines from $250,000 to $1 million for repeated violations and outsourcing complaint resolutions to a private sector adjudicator to expedite the process. Additionally, a federal gag order preventing travelers from discussing their complaints will be lifted. MacKinnon attributed some failures of the existing regulations, established in 2019, to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, while critics argue that the regulations were flawed from the start and have called for specific loopholes to be closed.
Why It Matters
This overhaul comes in response to growing dissatisfaction with the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), which were implemented during the Trudeau administration. The regulations have faced scrutiny for their complexity and ineffectiveness in addressing passenger issues, with nearly 100,000 complaints unresolved. The planned changes aim to improve passenger rights protections and streamline the complaint resolution process. Previous initiatives, such as a proposed fee on airlines for complaints, highlight ongoing challenges in enforcing consumer protections in the airline industry.
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