PRESS RELEASE

            OTTAWA, June 13, 2001- The Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages tabled yesterday in Parliament an interim report on the bilingual services offered by Air Canada.  Under section 10 of the Air Canada Public Participation Act, Air Canada is subject to the Official Languages Act and its subsidiaries are subject to Part IV of the Act. 

In its report, the Committee gives an overview of the testimony it has heard on the course of its proceedings and states a number of findings. The report makes two recommendations. Firstly, the Committee recommends that Air Canada gives to travellers the opportunity to fill, during the flight and on the ground, feedback forms in both official languages pertaining to its services. Also, the Committe recommends that the Department of Transport ensure that clear signs are posted stating that Air Canada’s services are available in both official languages in the air and on the ground.

            The Committee, which is co-chaired by the Honourable Shirley Maheu, Senator, and Mauril Bélanger, MP, comprises nine (9) senators and sixteen (16) MP’s.

            On the basis of the testimony heard to date, the Committee remains to be convinced that Air Canada and its subsidiaries, Air Ontario et Air Nova, are discharging their obligations under the Official Languages Act.  The burden of the proof rests with Air Canada, the Treasury Board Secretariat and the Department of Transport, who will be called to appear again before the Committee in the fall. On this matter, all Canadians are invited to share with the Committee their experiences with Air Canada.

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For information,

Tonu Onu                                                                                 Jean-François Pagé

Co-Clerk                                                                                 Co –Clerk

Standing Joint Committee                                                          Standing Joint Committee

     On Official Languages                                                                     Official Languages

The Senate                                                                               The House of Commons

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