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| Calin Rovinescu |
Les responsabilités de M. Rovinescu seront confiées aux membres de la haute direction et le Contrôleur devra dorénavant jouer un rôle accru. Le Conseil d'administration a demandé à Robert Milton, président et chef de la direction, de reprendre la responsabilité directe de certaines des fonctions assumées par M. Rovinescu. Paul Brotto, vice président général - Planification et Gestion des coûts, sera responsable de bon nombre des activités quotidiennes liées à la restructuration. La Société s'adressera à la Cour pour faire modifier l'ordonnance initiale en vertu de la LACC et ce, afin d'élargir le rôle du Contrôleur.
"Outre son apport unique à la direction de notre processus de restructuration qui a permis d'atteindre des résultats remarquables en très peu de temps et qui trace la voie vers une heureuse conclusion, M. Rovinescu a été un important agent de changement à Air Canada, a déclaré Robert Milton, président et chef de la direction. Au cours de la dernière année, nous avons apporté plus de changements structurels à la Société qu'au cours des soixante années précédentes. Le leadership ainsi que la vision et les compétences stratégiques dont a fait preuve M. Rovinescu ont été déterminants en cette période particulièrement houleuse de l'histoire d'Air Canada et du transport aérien. Le modèle utilisé pour la transformation des unités d'entreprise en sociétés autonomes est issu de la stratégie de M. Rovinescu visant à faire ressortir la valeur invisible de composantes comme Aéroplan ou les Services techniques et devrait donner lieu à une importante valorisation future. Nous souhaitons un franc succès dans ses nouvelles entreprises à M. Rovinescu, qui sera regretté à tous les niveaux de la Société."
M. Rovinescu est entré au service d'Air Canada en avril 2000 à titre de vice-président général - Croissance et Stratégie de l'entreprise. Par la suite, il a été responsable de diverses directions au sein de la Société : Technologie de l'information, Employés, Affaires juridiques et Secrétaire général ainsi que de plusieurs filiales importantes, parmi lesquelles Aéroplan, Air Canada Jazz et ZIP. Depuis sa nomination, en avril 2003, au poste de chef de la Restructuration, il s'est surtout concentré sur le processus de restructuration, entre autres, sur la conduite du plan de
restructuration, de la recapitalisation et des pourparlers avec les divers intervenants.
"Nous avons revu notre modèle de gestion du tout au tout et, bien qu'il reste un travail énorme à accomplir, nous avons fait d'importants progrès au chapitre de la restructuration des coûts, des produits et du parc aérien, a déclaré M. Rovinescu. Au cours de la dernière année, nous avons déjà réussi à réduire considérablement nos coûts de main-d'oeuvre, à dégager d'importants gains de productivité et à renégocier la quasi-totalité de notre dette et de nos obligations locatives liées au parc aérien ainsi que nos ententes avec nos principaux fournisseurs dont tous les avionneurs, les partenaires-émetteurs de cartes d'affinité, les fournisseurs de services informatiques et de services traiteurs ainsi que les équipementiers. Nous avons commandé 90 biréacteurs régionaux et reçu le financement nécessaire. Ces appareils sont indispensables pour notre nouveau modèle de gestion et procureront d'importantes possibilités de croissance tant pour Air Canada que pour Air Canada Jazz. Nous avons obtenu un financement de débiteur-exploitant afin de stabiliser notre restructuration, de nouvelles facilités de crédit ainsi qu'un financement pour les appareils afin de soutenir notre affranchissement de la LACC; nous avons aussi conclu un contrat d'achat de garantie avec émission importante de droits en faveur des créanciers. Nous avons fait des progrès remarquables avec les syndicats et les autres parties prenantes sur la question de la recapitalisation des régimes de retraite déficitaires. La Société dispose d'une encaisse de près de 950 M$ et respecte ses prévisions de chiffre d'affaires en 2004. Je quitte donc Air Canada assuré que nos réalisations à ce jour ont mis la Société en position de réussir sa restructuration. J'ai pleine confiance que tous les intervenants dans la restructuration veulent résoudre les derniers problèmes, aussi difficiles soient-ils", a conclu M. Rovinescu.
"L'Association veut simplement affirmer sa détermination à ce qu'Air Canada revienne à une situation financière saine et souhaite également souligner qu'elle est entièrement disposée à collaborer avec la personne qui remplacera M. Rovinescu afin d'atteindre notre objectif commun, soit la santé financière et la viabilité d'Air Canada", a conclu le commandant Johnson.
AIR CANADA
Important Information to Protect
All Travel Agencies and their Customers
and a Special Call to Action in Ontario
I would like to begin by saying that CSTAR fully supports and will do everything in its power to assure the survival of Air Canada. Not a single travel agency anywhere will benefit from the demise of Canada's national carrier, and to this end, CSTAR will assist wherever it can in taking any and all steps to guard against an Air Canada liquidation. CSTAR does not see eye-to-eye with Air Canada on many issues, but, this not withstanding, CSTAR also knows that consumers and travel agents alike depend on the survival of Air Canada for a multitude of reasons.
This being said, there are some issues which need to be dealt with immediately, particularly given the recent withdrawal of Victor Li's Trinity Time Investments Ltd's offer to invest in Air Canada. The media reports of impending doom, financial analyst commentary on the carrier's near $2 billon loss in 2003, and the heightened activity in Ottawa to assess options in any possible Air Canada failure are deeply troubling signs which require the focused attention of every travel agency in Canada.
Without providing specific legal advice, here are some items to consider in helping to support Air Canada with continued and uninterrupted sales, but to do so prudently:
Travel Agencies in all Provinces and Territories
• Credit Card Form of Payment
Consumers should be strongly encouraged to make all Air Canada purchases using a credit card. While credit card companies have stated that they will not accept any liability in the event of an airline failure, historically most credit card companies have made "good will" gestures in reimbursing consumers for services not provided by end-suppliers, however, in the event of a massive end-supplier failure, this policy could change at any time. Consumers should be advised there is no guarantee of protection by the credit card companies.
• Agency-Owned Credit Card Transactions
Travel agencies which are using a corporate in-house credit card, often used for web bookings, that is to say a card which belongs to the agency itself, should minimize their exposure to possible credit card charges accumulation. Wherever credit card sales are required, agencies should use the passenger's credit card. Once again, there is no guarantee that credit card companies will forgive any amounts in a massive end-supplier failure.
• E-Tickets
To the extent possible, and only where the customer is inclined to bear the extra cost if any, a paper ticket may be a better protection than an e-ticket, particularly for travel outside of North America. In prior cases of airline failures, customers with paper tickets were better positioned to seek and obtain alternative transportation within the involuntary re-routing and cessation of services provisions of various industry resolutions and bi-lateral agreements. Unless a bi-lateral e-ticketing agreement exists between cooperating carriers, it is nearly impossible to extract and transfer e-ticketing information to another airline, even airlines which operate in the context of an alliance.
• Travel to/from the United States
While the U.S. Department of Transportation does not have jurisdiction over flights wholly within Canada or between Canada and a point other than the United States, it does have regulatory authority over any transborder transportation between Canada and the United States, as well as transportation between the United States and a point outside of Canada, regardless of carrier or nationality of carrier. Travel agencies with customers holding Air Canada tickets purchased in Canada or the United States for transborder travel or travel from the U.S. via Canada to a point outside the United States and Canada may be protected in accordance with Section 145 of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, P.L. 107-71, 115 Stat. 645 (November 19, 2001) which requires airlines operating parallel routes to transport passengers of airlines that have ceased operations due to insolvency or bankruptcy on a space available basis for USD 25.00 per passenger. In such circumstances, a valid ticket or proof of e-ticket purchase or e-ticket itinerary is generally sufficient for seeking alternate transportation under Section 145 from airlines operating parallel routes.
• Insurance
Travel agents should verify whether or not any travel insurance sold to consumers covers the default or cessation of service of an end-supplier. In the event that such insurance does not, it may be prudent to emphasize, in writing (remarks on printed itinerary), that insurance is not provided for such an event. If insurance is available which includes coverage for end-supplier failure, it may be prudent to offer such insurance to further protect consumers.
Additional Information for Travel Agencies in British Columbia
As one of the three provinces with travel agency registration and regulations, the Government of British Columbia purports to offer full recovery to leisure-only passengers in the event of an end-supplier failure, but such recovery may be limited by a compensation fund without much capital funding. There is no liability directly borne by travel retailers. For complete information about B.C.'s Travel Assurance Fund, please visit: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/consumers/travel.htm
Additional Information for Travel Agencies in Quebec
As another of the three provinces with travel agency registration and regulations, the Government of Quebec protects consumers in the event a travel agency (or travel wholesaler) fails, to the extent of their security bond (including the collective security fund), but no protection is provided in the event of an end-supplier failure. CSTAR's alliance partner, APAV, and APAV's legal counsel in Quebec have recommended that agency clients in Quebec who insist upon a service guarantee regarding Air Canada's schedules and flight operations be presented with a waiver indemnity form to absolve the agency from any responsibility should Air Canada fail to operate in accordance with ticketed arrangements. APAV member agencies should contact APAV directly for more information regarding the waiver form.
Additional Information for Travel Agencies in Ontario
As the last of the three provinces with travel agency registration and regulations, the Government of Ontario protects consumers from end-supplier failure of an airline or cruise line up to a maximum of CAD 5 thousand per passenger, but no more than CAD 5 million total per single event. The situation in Ontario is potentially devastating for travel agencies in that the Ontario Government and its travel industry regulator, TICO, have repeatedly advised that travel agencies in Ontario will be directly liable for any failure of an airline beyond that which the compensation fund may cover.
Both the Ontario Government and TICO have been well aware of the injustices of holding travel agencies liable for end-supplier failures beyond the limits of the compensation fund, and despite three years of extensive consultations with the industry, including CSTAR, neither the Government nor TICO has done anything to relieve agencies of this inequity. In March 2004, the Government of Ontario issued proposed draft regulations to address issues regarding the regulations in Ontario, however, to the amazement of all, the Government left travel agencies with no changes to their end-supplier failure liabilities, and a new series of heavy-handed regulations which impose greater, even more unjustified rules on travel agency retailers.
The refusal of the Ontario Government to deal with these issues, repeatedly raised by CSTAR with the regulators, and which the regulators freely admit to knowing, understanding, yet doing nothing to resolve, presents a dangerous situation for Air Canada.
On 24 March 2004, the Court-appointed Monitor in the Air Canada bankruptcy proceeding stipulated that Air Canada's deferred ticket revenues, representing advance ticket sales collected, were approximately CAD 503.6 million on 29 February 2004. The Monitor also noted that Air Canada has additional financial obligations which exceed its cash on hand by CAD 692.1 million. The total of nearly CAD 1.2 billion in deficiencies has caused the Monitor to warn that in the event Air Canada's restructuring is not successful and Air Canada is liquidated, there will be limited assets available from realization to fund post-bankruptcy filing obligations.
To be absolutely clear, given the fact that approximately 80% of Air Canada tickets are sold by travel agencies, roughly 60% of which are sold by Canadian travel agencies, and approximately 38% of which are sold by travel agencies in Ontario, the exposure to advance ticket sales in the Province in any unsuccessful Air Canada bankruptcy resolution is conservatively around CAD 90 million at any given time. Even if the regulations were amended to allow the complete draining of the CAD 26 million Ontario travel compensation fund, Ontario travel agencies could be directly liable to consumers for nearly CAD 64 million. The situation is untenable.
Accordingly, Air Canada faces significant challenges in Ontario in maintaining ongoing and uninterrupted sales support from Ontario retail travel agencies by virtue of the unjust liabilities foisted upon Ontario agencies to be responsible for vast sums of money should Air Canada fail to secure investment from Mr. Li or alternate investors and emerge from bankruptcy. No travel agency in Ontario wishes to contribute to Air Canada's woes, but travel agencies may not be prepared to risk their own businesses in an attempt to support Air Canada.
In order for some Ontario retail travel agencies to continue to support Air Canada, immediate legislative intervention and relief may be necessary. CSTAR wishes to help bring about this relief so that agencies will continue to sell and support Air Canada during this extremely difficult time. Thus, CSTAR requests that all Ontario travel agencies write today to their respective Members of Provincial Parliament, as outlined in the steps below:
• Step One
1. Create a new e-mail in your e-mail program addressed to (TO:) your MPP (see complete list of MPPs by Riding in Step Five below).
• Step Two
2. Copy and paste the addresses below and copy (CC:) your e-mail to the members of the Standing Committee on General Government:
jmlalonde.mpp@liberal.ola.org; vdhillon.mpp@liberal.ola.org; marilyn_churley-mpp@ontla.ola.org; jleal.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org; jerry_ouellette@ontla.ola.org; eparsons.mpp@liberal.ola.org; lrinaldi.mpp@liberal.ola.org; mvanbommel.mpp@liberal.ola.org; kwynne.mpp@liberal.ola.org; john_yakabuski@ontla.ola.org; tonia_grannum@ontla.ola.org
• Step Three
3. Blind Copy (BCC:) your e-mail to ac@cstar.ca and use the following in the subject line: Air Canada
• Step Four
4. Copy and paste the text of the letter below, being certain to replace the information in [brackets] with the correct information:
Dear [MPP Name] and Members of the Standing Committee on General Government,
As a member of your constituency, and as a travel agent serving our community for many years, I am deeply troubled by the unfolding crisis at Air Canada. I am particularly concerned about the lack of progress at the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services (MCBS) in updating travel industry regulations in Ontario which continue to hold my travel agency directly liable, if Air Canada fails, for amounts not covered by Ontario's travel compensation fund, despite the fact that I have already turned-over all consumer payments to Air Canada from my trust account.
After nearly three years of consultation with MCBS and its travel regulatory agency TICO, the Ministry has finally issued draft regulations which purport to update regulations which result from Ontario's 1974 Travel Industry Act, an Act woefully out of date, and one which does not address the realities of doing business in 2004. However, to the dismay of all travel agencies in Ontario, the draft regulations continue to hold every agency in Ontario liable for an amount which is nearly $90 million dollars in advance ticket sales on Air Canada, monies which have already been transferred to Air Canada and are no longer in our possession.
While both MCBS and TICO admit that the regulations which hold me liable for these monies are unjust and unfair, and solely based upon the Act's language, which all admit was not intended to make travel agencies liable for the failure of a major airline which already received payment from the travel agency, both MCBS and TICO blame the Ontario legislature for failing to amend the Travel Industry Act to reflect current business practices.
Frankly, my agency cannot afford the risk of selling Air Canada if I am to be held liable for funds already paid to Air Canada should Air Canada cease operations and go into liquidation. At the same time, I do not wish, nor does any travel agency in Ontario wish to contribute to Air Canada's troubles by selling away from Air Canada when every sale is crucial to our national carrier's survival.
The withdrawal of Victor Li's financing offer to Air Canada, the airline's reported $2 billion dollar loss in 2003, and the dismal and dire report released by the bankruptcy monitor regarding Air Canada financial deficiencies have propelled this situation into a crisis.
Ontario agencies do not wish to be put in the untenable position of risking their own businesses to save Air Canada's. I urge you to convene with your legislative counterparts to provide immediate relief by removing all financial liabilities from Ontario travel agencies for monies paid to Air Canada for future travel by consumers. Failing to do so may result in Ontario being responsible for forcing me to not sell Air Canada and for a downward spiraling impact on Air Canada revenues, pushing the airline into certain cessation and ultimate liquidation.
In addition, I ask that the Ontario legislature convene a special committee to immediately consult with travel agency trade association officials. You may reach Mr. Bruce Bishins, President of the Canadian Standard Travel Agent Registry (CSTAR) at bbishins@cstar.ca or at 416-922-6332.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent request. Your immediate intervention is both necessary and appreciated.
Respectfully yours,
[Your Name]
[Your Travel Agency]
[Your City], Ontario
[Your Telephone Number]
• Step Five - List of Ontario MPPs by Riding (for use in
Step One above)
| YOUR RIDING – YOUR MPP |
E-MAIL ADDRESS |
| Algoma/Manitoulin - Mike Brown |
mbrown.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Ancaster/Dundas/Flamborough/Aldershot - Ted McMeekin |
tmcmeekin.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Barrie/Simcoe/Bradford - Joseph Tascona |
joe_tascona@ontla.ola.org |
| Beaches/East York - Michael D. Prue |
mprue-qp@ndp.on.ca |
| Bramalea/Gore/Malton/Springdale - Kuldip Kular |
kkular.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Brampton Centre - Linda Jeffrey |
ljeffrey.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Brampton West/Mississauga - Vic Dhillon |
vdhillon.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Brant - Dave Levac |
dlevac.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Bruce/Grey/Owen Sound - Bill Murdoch |
bill_murdoch@ontla.ola.org |
| Burlington - Cam Jackson |
cam_jackson@ontla.ola.org |
| Cambridge - Gerry Martiniuk |
gerry_martiniuk@ontla.ola.org |
| Chatham/Kent/Essex - Pat Hoy |
phoy.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Davenport - Tony Ruprecht |
truprecht.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Don Valley East - David Caplan |
dcaplan.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Don Valley West - Kathleen O. Wynne |
kwynne.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Dufferin/Peel/Wellington/Grey - Ernie Eves |
ernie_eves@ontla.ola.org |
| Durham - John R. O'Toole |
john_otoole@ontla.ola.org |
| Eglinton/Lawrence - Mike Colle |
mcolle.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Elgin/Middlesex/London - Steve Peters |
speters.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Erie/Lincoln - Tim Hudak |
tim_hudak@ontla.ola.org |
| Essex - Bruce Crozier |
bcrozier.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Etobicoke Centre - Donna Cansfield |
dcansfield.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Etobicoke North - Shafiq Qaadri |
sqaadri.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Etobicoke/Lakeshore - Laurel Broten |
lbroten.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Glengarry/Prescott/Russell - Jean-Marc Lalonde |
jmlalonde.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Guelph/Wellington - Liz Sandals |
lsandals.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Haldimand/Norfolk/Brant - Toby Barrett |
toby_barrett@ontla.ola.org |
| Haliburton/Victoria/Brock - Laurie Scott |
laurie_scott@ontla.ola.org |
| Halton - Ted Chudleigh |
ted_chudleigh@ontla.ola.org |
| HamiltonMountain - Marie Bountrogianni |
mbountrogianni.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Hamilton West - Judy Marsales |
jmarsales.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Hastings/Frontenac/Lennox/Addington - Leona Dombrowsky |
ldombrowsky.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Huron/Bruce - Carol Mitchell |
cmitchell.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Kenora/Rainy River - Howard Hampton |
hhampton-qp@ndp.on.ca |
| Kingston and the Islands - John Gerretsen |
jgerretsen.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Kitchener Centre - John Milloy |
jmilloy.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Kitchener/Waterloo - Elizabeth Witmer |
elizabeth_witmer@ontla.ola.org |
| Lambton/Kent/Middlesex - Maria Van Bommel |
mvanbommel.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Lanark/Carleton - Norm Sterling |
norm_sterling@ontla.ola.org |
| Leeds/Grenville - Bob Runciman |
rwrunciman@brockville.com |
| London North Centre - Deb Matthews |
dmatthews.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| London West - Christopher Bentley |
cbentley.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| London/Fanshawe - Khalil Ramal |
kramal.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Markham - Tony C. Wong |
tcwong.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Mississauga Centre - Harinder S. Takhar |
htakhar.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Mississauga East - Peter Fonseca |
pfonseca.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Mississauga South - Tim Peterson |
tpeterson.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Mississauga West - Bob Delaney |
bdelaney.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Nepean/Carleton - John Baird |
john_baird@ontla.ola.org |
| Niagara Centre - Peter Kormos |
pkormos-qp@ndp.on.ca |
| Niagara Falls - Kim Craitor |
kcraitor.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Nickel Belt - Shelley Martel |
shelley_martel-mpp@ontla.ola.org |
| Nipissing - Monique M. Smith |
msmith.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Northumberland - Lou Rinaldi |
lrinaldi.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Oak Ridges - Frank Klees |
frank_klees@ontla.ola.org |
| Oakville - Kevin Flynn |
kflynn.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Oshawa - Jerry Ouellette |
jerry_ouellette@ontla.ola.org |
| Ottawa Centre - Richard Patten |
rpatten.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Ottawa South - Dalton J. P. McGuinty |
dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org |
| Ottawa West-Nepean - Jim Watson |
jwatson.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Ottawa/Orléans - Phil McNeely |
pmcneely.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Ottawa/Vanier - Madeleine Meilleur |
mmeilleur.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Oxford - Ernie Hardeman |
ernie_hardeman@ontla.ola.org |
| Parkdale/High Park - Gerard Kennedy |
gkennedy.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org |
| Parry Sound/Muskoka - Norm Miller |
Norm_miller@ontla.ola.org |
| Perth/Middlesex - John Wilkinson |
jwilkinson.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Peterborough - Jeff Leal |
jleal.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org |
| Pickering/Ajax/Uxbridge - Wayne Arthurs |
warthurs.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Prince Edward/Hastings - Ernie Parsons |
eparsons.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Renfrew/Nipissing/Pembroke - John Yakabuski |
john_yakabuski@ontla.ola.org |
| Sarnia/Lambton - Caroline Di Cocco |
cdicocco.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Sault Ste. Marie - David Orazietti |
dorazietti.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Scarborough Centre - Brad Duguid |
bduguid.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Scarborough East - Mary Anne V. Chambers |
machambers.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Scarborough Southwest - Lorenzo Berardinetti |
lberardinetti.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Scarborough/Agincourt - Gerry Phillips |
gphillips.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Scarborough/Rouge River - Alvin Curling |
acurling.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Simcoe North - Garfield Dunlop |
garfield_dunlop@ontla.ola.org |
| Simcoe/Grey - Jim Wilson |
jim_wilson@ontla.ola.org |
| St. Catharines - Jim Bradley |
jbradley.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| St. Paul's - Michael Bryant |
mbryant.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Stoney Creek - Jennifer Mossop |
jmossop.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Stormont/Dundas/Charlottenburgh - Jim Brownell |
jbrownell.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Sudbury - Rick Bartolucci |
rbartolucci.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Thornhill - Mario G. Racco |
mracco.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Thunder Bay/Atikokan - Bill Mauro |
bmauro.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Thunder Bay/Superior North - Michael Gravelle |
mgravelle.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Timiskaming/Cochrane - David Ramsay |
dramsay.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Timmins/James Bay - Gilles Bisson |
gilles@gillesbisson.com |
| Toronto Centre/Rosedale - George Smitherman |
gsmitherman.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Toronto/Danforth - Marilyn Churley |
marilyn_churley-mpp@ontla.ola.org |
| Trinity/Spadina - Rosario Marchese |
rmarchese@ndp.on.ca |
| Vaughan/King/Aurora - Gregory Sorbara |
gsorbara.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Waterloo/Wellington - Ted Arnott |
ted_arnott@ontla.ola.org |
| Whitby/Ajax - James M. Flaherty |
jim_flaherty@ontla.ola.org |
| Willowdale - David Zimmer |
dzimmer.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Windsor West - Sandra Pupatello |
spupatello.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| Windsor/St. Clair - Dwight Duncan |
dduncan.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| York Centre - Monte Kwinter |
mkwinter.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org |
| York North - Julia Munro |
julia_munro@ontla.ola.org |
| York South/Weston - Joseph Cordiano |
jcordiano.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
| York West - Mario Sergio |
msergio.mpp@liberal.ola.org |
As a side matter, CSTAR officials attended the TICO-conducted Town Hall Meeting in Toronto on the travel industry draft regulations on Wednesday, 31 March 2004. Perhaps owing to insufficient notice, an incorrect address of the meeting location, and poor planning opposite a major airline trade event, less than 25 people attended the meeting. In addition to completely misstating various facts relating to the proposed draft regulations, it was quite clear that TICO chose to avoid certain aspects of the proposed regulations which would have further contributed to the already negative reception by attendees. Not only was there outspoken disagreement and opposition to the draft regulations expressed by attorneys from CATO, a TICO board member, but no officials attended from ACTA Canada, nor Richard Vanderlubbe, TICO and ACTA Chairman.
Furthermore, CSTAR cannot fathom what more information TICO needs to make its case for regulatory reform given its lack of any significant progress with the Ontario Government in the past three years. It is clear that TICO and ACTA (the only agency association with official TICO standing and appointment) have failed to provide the necessary leadership to bring much-needed regulatory and legislative relief to Ontario travel agencies.
As such, Ontario travel agencies are reminded that CSTAR will be holding a day-long summit on the Ontario's Government's proposed draft regulations, in Toronto, on Wednesday, 21 April 2004, at the Days Hotel and Conference Centre, Toronto Airport. More information about CSTAR's position on the draft regulations and registration for the summit may be obtained by visiting http://www.cstar.ca/tico.
CSTAR will continue to provide you updated information as the Air Canada situation unfolds. Thank you for your ongoing support of CSTAR's efforts on your behalf.
Best regards,
Bruce Bishins, CTC
President and
Chief Executive Officer
CSTAR is the largest non-profit trade association in Canada consisting exclusively of travel agencies. Federally incorporated as a cooperative, and together with its alliance partner APAV in Quebec, CSTAR is the sole travel agent-only association which speaks on behalf of more than 5,000 travel agencies in Canada. In addition to advocating fair and equitable treatment of travel consumers, CSTAR and APAV represent the commercial and strategic interests of their member travel agencies in a variety of national and provincial domains including regulatory and legislative matters, automation, technology, sales and marketing, and distribution.
GENESIS centers around a travel agency-owned and initiated, point-of-sale
system incorporating reservations, ticketing, supplier settlement, and
agency accreditation. The GENESIS platform is being implemented and is
jointly owned by USTAR (USA), CSTAR (Canada), ESTAR (Europe), ASTAR (Australia),
ISTAR (India), and MEXSTAR (Mexico).