Investor Presentaiton
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REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
In Canada, commercial air transportation, including policy, maintenance standards, operations standards, safety
and ground and navigation facilities, falls wholly within the jurisdiction of the federal government and is the
responsibility of the Minister of Transport. The Canadian Transportation Agency is responsible for issuing air carrier
licenses for both domestic and international services and regulates international air fares as well as terms and conditions
of carriage. Since 1996, NAV Canada, a private company, is responsible for providing air navigation services in
Canada. In addition, all major Canadian airports are operated by Canadian airport authorities that are also not-for-profit
corporations.
Domestic Services
The 1987 deregulation of the domestic airline industry allowed carriers to establish fares as well as terms and
conditions of carriage without government regulation. The Canada Transportation Act ("CTA") provides for free
market entry to the extent that a carrier can demonstrate that (i) it is "Canadian", defined in the CTA as being controlled
in fact by Canadians and having at least 75% of its voting interest owned and controlled by Canadians; (ii) it can
operate safely; (iii) it is suitably insured; and (iv) it meets the minimum financial requirements set out in the Air
Transportation Regulations (Canada) adopted pursuant to the CTA.
In July 2000, the Government of Canada amended the CTA, the Competition Act (Canada) (the "Competition
Act") and the Air Canada Public Participation Act (Canada) (the "Air Canada Public Participation Act") to address the
competitive airline environment in Canada and ensure protection for consumers. This legislation included airline-
specific provisions concerning "abuse of dominance" under the Competition Act, later supplemented by creating
"administrative monetary penalties" for a breach of the abuse of dominance provisions by a dominant domestic air
carrier.
In July 2003, the Competition Tribunal released its reasons and findings in a proceeding between the
Commissioner of Canada and Air Canada which had considered the approach to be taken in determining whether Air
Canada was operating below "avoidable costs" in violation of one of the new airline-specific abuse of dominance
provisions. The Competition Tribunal applied a very broadly crafted cost test in its decision. In September 2004, the
Commissioner of Competition published a letter describing the enforcement approach that would be taken in future
cases involving the airline-specific abuse of dominance provisions, which included a statement that the Tribunal's
approach to avoidable costs remains relevant.
In addition, on November 2, 2004, the Minister of Industry tabled amendments to the Competition Act in Bill C-19
which, if enacted, would have removed the airline-specific "abuse of dominance" provisions from the Competition Act.
However, on November 29, 2005, the 38th Parliament of Canada was dissolved. As a result, the legislative process
relating to the adoption of Bill C-19 was terminated. Management cannot predict if or when such proposed legislation
will be re-introduced in the House of Commons.
On April 27, 2004, the Government of Canada amended the Canadian Computer Reservation Systems (CRS)
Regulations adopted under the Aeronautics Act (Canada) to lessen the regulatory requirements and place greater
reliance on market forces in the distribution system that will result in market efficiencies and reduced costs for airlines.
With the amendments, no airline is required to participate in all CRSS operating in Canada and every airline has the
freedom to select the levels of participation that best serve its operations. Also, all airlines and CRS vendors are now
permitted to freely negotiate fees on strictly commercial terms.
On May 4, 2006, Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and the Railway Safety Act and to
make consequential amendments to other Acts (Canada), was tabled for first reading in the House of Commons. It
passed third reading on February 28, 2007 and was tabled for first reading in the Senate on March 1, 2007. Bill C-11
seeks, among other things, to amend the CTA with respect to the air transportation sector, in relation to complaints
processes, the advertising of prices for air services and the disclosure of terms and conditions of carriage, and specific
recognition that in the event of an inconsistency or conflict between an international agreement or convention
respecting air services to which Canada is a party and the Competition Act, the provisions of the agreement or
convention prevail to the extent of the inconsistency or conflict. Management cannot predict if or when such proposed
legislation will enter into force.
On June 15, 2006, Bill C-20, An Act respecting airports, airport authorities and other airport operators and
amending the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada Act, was tabled for first reading in the House of Commons.View entire presentation