LOCATION: National / TRAN
ISSUE/SOURCE: Documents relating to conversations between Transport Canada and the Agency have been made public.
DATE: February 8, 2022
SUGGESTED RESPONSES
- The Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) is an independent administrative tribunal of the Government of Canada that makes decisions relating to federally regulated modes of transportation. The Agency falls under my responsibility and purview.
- Communications, such as those that have recently been referred to in the media, between Transport Canada and Agency officials are standard procedure and are intended to allow the department to inform me on matters that I may be called upon to respond to in my capacity of Minister responsible for the Agency.
- Such discussions do not impact or hinder in any way the Agency’s independence or arm’s length relationship with Transport Canada.
- These documents pertain to an issue that is currently in front of the Court and it would be inappropriate for me to further comment.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- In 2020, the TRAN Committee requested certain documents from Transport Canada regarding passenger rights issues. These were provided, but were redacted in keeping with relevant legislation.
- Certain of these records were recently requested as part of a court case.
- These are email communications occurring in late March 2020 between Transport Canada officials and Agency officials.
- The unredacted documents were provided to the Court on January 31, 2022. They also made their way into the media.
- These records have been characterized as evidence that the Agency is not truly independent and receives pressure from Transport Canada and the industry.
- The email exchanges between Transport Canada and the Agency were in keeping with the role of Departmental officials in seeking factual information to be able to brief the Minister on the application of the Air Passenger Protect Regulations in the rapidly evolving context of the onset of the pandemic.