Exclude small airports from AMPs

AI summary

Petitioners ask Canada to exempt airports under four million annual passengers from administrative monetary penalties under the Official Languages Act. The government responds that the AMP regime applies to certain passenger carriers and considers feedback.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA Whereas Canada's airports are committed to providing the highest levels of customer service in both official languages; Whereas given labour market realities in smaller communities, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible in some cases, to find qualified bilingual staff for service positions at commercial rates; Whereas the proposed regime of Administrative Monetary Penalties under the Official Languages Act will not help smaller airports to comply with the Act, and instead will only serve to financially punish them; Whereas small airports are least able to absorb the proposed financial penalties, which may be as high as $25,000 per infraction; Therefore be it resolved that the undersigned call on the Government of Canada to exclude from the Official Languages Act's proposed Administrative Monetary Penalties any airport with fewer than four million passengers (enplaned and deplaned) annually.

Government response

Response by the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages Signed by The Honourable Marc Miller The Government of Canada would like to thank the petitioners for expressing their concerns regarding the Administrative Monetary Penalties and recognizes that concerns have been raised regarding the recruitment and retention of staff capable of providing services in both official languages in some small airports. The administrative monetary penalty regime provided for in the Official Languages Act applies to certain entities in the passenger transportation sector subject to Part IV of the Act. It is intended to promote compliance by these entities with language obligations related to communications with, and services to the public through a graduated approach. In developing this regime, the Government considers feedback received from stakeholders. The Government of Canada remains committed to ensuring the protection of language rights as set out in the Official Languages Act.