Misleading Airline Advertising: Conservative Inaction Embarrassing

With Harper Government Idling, Airlines Move to All-in Pricing Despite Lack of Regulation

February 8, 2012

OTTAWA - In 2007, Parliament tasked the government with implementing transparent airfare advertising regulation – without any results so far. Now major Canadian airlines have stopped waiting for the Conservatives to act and are starting all-in pricing on their own. This comes less than a week after the Conservatives rebuked the latest push of NDP Transport Critic Olivia Chow for immediate consumer protection from hidden fees.

Air Canada and Porter Airlines are now starting all-in pricing, citing increasing consumer pressure for truth in advertising. The move comes two months after the Harper government announced that the new rules would take at least another year to be written and implemented. The Conservatives failure to act has left Canadian travellers out in the cold, Olivia Chow argued in Parliament’s Question Period. The recent change of course by major airlines after years of holding on to misleading advertising practices is an embarrassment for the Conservatives:

Transcript:

Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, it has been almost five years since Parliament passed a truth in advertising law but the government is still failing Canadians, allowing airlines to hide their fees. Last week, the Conservatives voted against an NDP motion demanding immediate protection for our travellers. Today, making a mockery of the government’s refusal to act, two Canadian airlines voluntarily moved to all-in-one pricing. When will the government act?

Hon. Denis Lebel (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, it is very interesting that in 2007, when we proposed the bill, the member voted against it. Some years later, she is saying that because of what her party is doing, we have to deliver on it now. That is very special.

Our government continues to work with all the airline companies and we are very proud of the job we have done. All customers will see the right price when reading newspapers or on TV, the price they expect to buy at.

Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, we did not support years of consultation without any action.

Consumers in Toronto and across the country have been pushing for all-in-one pricing for years. What does the government do? It does nothing other than make a Christmas announcement that was actually a media stunt.

After years of foot-dragging and inaction the government did not get the job done. What is it waiting for?

Hon. Denis Lebel (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, CPC):

Mr. Speaker, in fact we made an announcement on December 16. We have been pushing for this. That member proposed a motion last week after we had already made the announcement.

Today we have to congratulate Air Canada and Porter Airlines. These airline companies are giving the right information to all of their customers to be sure that they have the right price when they buy their tickets.

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