VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

FALSE PLEDGE TO PASSENGERS

Transport Minister Marc Garneau has recently trumpeted the launch of new regulations designed to ensure the general public are “treated with fairness and respect” by all Canadian airline carriers.

Regrettably, these regulations, referred to as the Air Passenger Rights bill, provide more protection for the airlines than for the travelling public, who are being fooled with false promises of compensation in the event of delays, cancellations or denied boarding. These promises are akin to the sort of commitments made by political parties in the runup to an election, once faced with a claim there are numerous reasons why the promises cannot be fulfilled.

It is indeed a sorry state of affairs when the federal government recognizes the necessity of developing legislation to protect airline passengers and setting operating standards because it wishes to ensure passengers are “treated with fairness and respect” by the airlines. The need for this protection is a very sad reflection on the poor management of airlines in the treatment of their passengers. Regrettably, customer service is most definitely not high on the agenda of national airlines, and the absence of ethical standards of operation have led to this requirement for legislation.

Social media is currently abuzz with horror stories from travellers who have been mistreated by our major carriers and frequently offered little or no satisfaction in obtaining meals, hotel accommodation, alternate flight arrangements or financial compensation when their flight times or flight days are changed at short notice.

If your flight gets cancelled because a crew member called in sick, good luck in getting to your destination on the same day. If your flight gets delayed because the catch on an overhead bin is found to be malfunctioning, just pray you don’t miss your onward connecting flight because there is little the airline will do to help you. It is frustrating to be faced with a nonchalant staff member who simply says nothing can be done and expects passengers to make their own alternate arrangements.

It is for reasons like this that we need air passenger rights protection, but the virtually toothless legislation enacted by the Liberal government pales in comparison to the rights of those travelling on European airlines where compensation standards are much higher and are strongly enforced. Improvements to Canadian standards will require a concerted effort from the travelling public demanding “fairness and respect” from our national airlines.

Nicholas Carson, Halifax

BUS SERVICE MUCH BETTER

Kudos to MetroTransit for the vast improvement in the bus system. Twice in the past, I tried to conduct my business using public transit, but gave up after a few weeks — tired of long, slow routes and long waits between transfers.

For the last month, I have conducted my business using the bus system 50 per cent of the time, using routes connecting Dartmouth, Halifax Peninsula, Lower Sackville and Bedford. The rides, all shorter than half an hour, have been a relaxing time to read or just look around. It is also an effective way to cut carbon emissions. The higher the demand — i.e., the more people use it — the better will the system be: higher frequency and lower emissions overall.

Fernando Moncayo, Dartmouth

STADIUM A SPORTS MAGNET

There’d be many spinoffs from building a stadium in Halifax.

First, what is usually one or maybe two trips to Halifax would turn into upwards of 10 for me and my wife. If you multiply that by thousands of other fans — many who would be like me, a season ticket holder, coming into Halifax for game day trips or overnight trips — it amounts to a lot of money spent in Halifax.

Along with the game expenses, we’d be spending money shopping, especially if the stadium is situated near major shopping areas such as Dartmouth Crossing, not to mention at hotels, restaurants and pubs.

This is a great opportunity for Halifax and the province of Nova Scotia to not only step onto the national sports stage, but also to attract even more sports tourists from the Maritimes and all over Canada who’d be following the Schooners or their CFL team in town for a game!

Reg Smith, Moncton

LEGALIZED EXTORTION

I parked at the Halifax law courts recently to do a little Christmas shopping and paid $7 for two hours. I got back to my car 10 minutes late and found an $85 ticket on my windshield — it contained threats of calling in collection agencies and future towing if I didn’t pay up. This is legalized extortion that ironically is sanctioned by the law courts. No wonder people don’t want to drive downtown. Brent Smith, Halifax

GUT-WRENCHING CALL

Stephen McNeil is not my favourite person. However, he is the only premier, in my long memory, to have had the fortitude, courage and honour to make one of the most horrible decisions a politician has to make. I’m sure many sleepless nights are to come.

Congratulations, Mr. Premier, for doing the right thing.

Robert P. Cooke, Halifax