Feds want Sunwing, Via Rail executives to answer for holiday travel chaos
Posted January 4, 2023 9:27 am.
Last Updated January 4, 2023 9:34 am.
Following a holiday season of travel chaos the federal government wants to hear from executives of two companies to help answer what went wrong.
Liberal MP Peter Schiefke, the chair of the House of Commons transport committee, is calling for Sunwing Airlines and Via Rail to publicly explain what caused travel disruptions that affected thousands of customers. He says he plans to call on representatives from both companies to appear as witnesses.
Schiefke says Canadians deserve an explanation for what he calls “unacceptable delays and cancellations.”
“Canadians deserve answers,” echoed federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, who had previously criticized Via due to the holiday disruptions.
A spokesperson for Via Rail says the crown corporation would respond to a committee request.
A blizzard on Dec. 23 caused damage along CN Rail’s Kingston subdivision, which Via Rail’s trains travel along. Hundreds of passengers were stranded near Cobourg and at other points.
Nine trains in all were trapped until midday Christmas Eve after trees fell on the tracks and damaged a VIA train. Another seven train trips were cancelled altogether due to the backup.
The disruption also forced the cancellation of all VIA trains on Boxing day as crews worked to restore the track to a safe and usable state as quickly as possible.
The winter storm also wreaked havoc on air travel across the country and Sunwing said Tuesday it had finally completed all of its scheduled recovery flights to bring home passengers stranded in Mexico after winter storms before Christmas disrupted its operations.
Some travellers from Saskatchewan say the airline has left them at airports in other provinces, while one says her flight from Mexico made it to Regina with dozens of empty seats. Sunwing announced last week that it was suspending flights from the Saskatoon and Regina airports for a month due to extenuating circumstances.
The airline says passengers who were affected by the delays can submit a claim for compensation or a refund through its website.
With files from The Canadian Press
