ETA Canada News

Documents show that about one-third of flights in Canada are delayed each year, most of which are within the control of airlines, and passengers and crew are paying the price.

According to Transport Canada data obtained by the Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF), more than 250,000 flights in Canada will be affected annually between 2022 and 2024. Flight delays not only affect passengers, but also flight attendants, as even if they are already working, their pay does not start until the plane closes its doors.

“If about a third of flights are delayed,” said Erin Rolfson, a spokeswoman for the WestJet chapter of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). “That means thousands of flight attendants are losing unpaid time every month.”

The same delays are also testing the passenger compensation system, which Rolfson described as “confusing and inconsistent” and reflected a “lack of transparency from some airlines.”

A single sick crew member can cause delays or even flight cancellations, disrupting travel within and outside Canada, depending on the aircraft’s route. The cascading delays have exposed weaknesses in Canada’s air travel framework, increased unpaid work time for flight attendants, and added unexpected costs for passengers, putting financial pressure on airlines and sparking debate about the value of time in Canada’s aviation system and how to fix it.

Air Canada says its cabin crew have been on strike since August 16, affecting at least 500,000 passengers. They are currently in contract negotiations seeking compensation for unpaid ground handling work, wage increases and other compensation.

At WestJet, where the current contract for flight attendants expires in December, union representatives are seeking similar reforms, including payment for pre- and post-flight work, which CUPE estimates totals about 35 hours of unpaid work per month.

More than half of delays are within the control of carriers. Who is responsible when flights are delayed and what compensation each party deserves are at the heart of the debate over how to fix Canada’s aviation system. Transport Canada recently responded to a question from a member of parliament, saying more than half of delays are “within the carrier’s control,” which allows airlines to compensate passengers under federal regulations.

When a snowstorm sweeps across the Prairies or a security alert closes an airport, such events are generally considered “outside the carrier’s control,” and the airline’s liability for domestic flights is limited to rerouting passengers. However, if delays on flights within Canada are due to factors such as crew scheduling or maintenance issues, these events may be classified as “within the control of the carrier.”

Under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR), passengers are entitled to hourly compensation for meals, fixed expenses, restaurants, transportation and other expenses. But anecdotal evidence collected by IJF from passengers and small claims filings suggests those rules aren’t always explained clearly to travelers facing delays, and CUPE says flight attendants are often caught in the middle.

“Flight attendants have witnessed firsthand how disorganized and inconsistent communication with passengers can be during flight delays,” Rolfson said. “Our members often field questions from angry or frustrated passengers about compensation. This puts them in a difficult position.”

It is recommended that Canadian compensation standards be aligned with those of Europe WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech called the system “ineffective” and costly for passengers and suggested that passengers who choose to purchase coverage should be compensated through a voluntary program. Airline passenger rights advocate Gábor Lukács said Canada should align itself with Europe, which he called the “gold standard” for passenger protection. “

‘For risks arising from events that are controllable by a single or small number of actors, the insurance model is not viable,’ he said. ‘In the EU, Israel, Turkey and other jurisdictions that have some form of passenger protection regulation, they have avoided an ‘opt-in’ model.

’WestJet and Air Canada had not responded to IJF’s questions about the flight delays by the time of publication.

On Saturday morning, a long line formed outside the Active Care clinic in Kanata, west of Ottawa, as hundreds of residents braved the cold wind just to register as patients of their family doctor.

The clinic announced it would accept 400 to 600 new patients, some of whom would be managed by physician assistants. This announcement attracted many residents who lacked family doctors.

Ontario has faced a severe shortage of family physicians in recent years. The Ontario Medical Association states that approximately 2.5 million people in the province lack a family physician, and nearly 40% of physicians are considering retirement. Despite increased government investment, medical resources remain insufficient to meet demand.

Many residents said they had been unable to find replacements for years after doctors retired, moved, or closed their clinics. Some even queued up as early as 4:30 a.m. in the hope of securing registration. The clinic said it currently has eight doctors and three physician assistants.

Physician assistants can perform physical examinations, issue referrals, and provide some prescriptions, but they cannot prescribe narcotics. This collaborative model helps shorten wait times and allow more people to access basic medical services.

The strike by British Columbia (BC) provincial public servants is entering its fifth week and escalating. On October 3, the BC Government Employees Union (BCGEU) announced that approximately 900 new members would join the strike. This includes staff at 20 provincial liquor stores (BC Liquor Stores) and provincial cannabis stores, as well as employees from the Ministry of Environment and Parks and the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

The BCGEU and the provincial government resumed negotiations on September 29, but the talks soon broke down. On October 1, the BCGEU, along with other unions, held a rally in downtown Vancouver to protest.

According to the BCGEU website, as of October 3, more than 17,000 members were on strike through picketing and refusal of overtime, with 90 picket lines at 198 locations across the state, including 80 liquor stores, four liquor distribution warehouses, and Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement.

The BCGEU is demanding wage increases to address rising living costs. Previously, it had called for a total wage increase of 8.25% over two years, but in a statement on September 29th, it announced that it had presented a counterproposal of a 4% wage increase each year over two years. However, according to BCGEU President Paul Finch, the latest wage increase proposal presented by the state government is a total of 4% over two years (2% per year), which he calls “completely unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, Premier David Eby said the state government’s 0.5% increase on previous proposals was “no small concession, involving hundreds of millions of dollars in financial impact,” adding: “The government is committed to returning to the negotiating table. Public services are important, and we need staff to get back to work.”

On October 1, the Alberta government announced that it plans to submit a proposal to the federal government’s Major Projects Office (MPO) for the construction of a new oil sands (bitumen: extra-heavy oil) pipeline along the northwest coast of British Columbia (BC). The MPO is a newly established agency by the federal government that assists in expediting approval processes and securing funding for large-scale national projects that are deemed priority projects.

Alberta Premier Daniel Smith said in a statement, “This plan is more than just a pipeline proposal; it’s about unlocking Canada’s economic potential.” The provincial government will contribute $14 million to the project and lead it as the driving force. The technical advisory group includes the three major pipeline companies, Enbridge, South Bow, and Trans Mountain, but there is no guarantee that these companies will participate in the actual project.

The specific route of the pipeline is still being worked out, and some Indigenous groups are involved in the planning.

The provincial government is the main applicant for the plan because it is difficult for private companies to invest the necessary capital due to the impact of tanker restrictions on northern British Columbia waters. Premier Smith said he has already approached Premier Mark Carney about lifting the tanker restrictions and believes the outlook is bright.

British Columbia Premier David Eby, on the other hand, criticized the plan as “a hollow project that relies on taxpayer money and has no private sector backers.” He said he wants to work with Alberta on other large-scale infrastructure projects involving the private sector, such as hydrogen and electricity. He also said the tanker restrictions are fundamental to protecting the coast for British Columbia residents and First Nations.

Coastal First Nations, a coalition of coastal indigenous peoples, also rejected Alberta’s proposal, warning that the pipeline would threaten coastal waters and the environment.

A Canadian parliamentary committee has approved amendments to the Citizenship Bill that would limit the qualifications for citizenship by descent and bring it closer to the requirements for naturalization by immigrants.

On Tuesday, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration added new provisions to Bill C-3, requiring Canadian descendants whose parents were also born abroad to meet language and knowledge requirements and pass security checks if they want to inherit Canadian citizenship. According to the amendment, all applicants aged 18 to 55 must have sufficient English or French proficiency and a certain understanding of the responsibilities and rights of Canadian citizens. In addition, all adult applicants must undergo a security background check to determine whether they are ineligible for entry or residence.

Unlike the previously proposed requirement of 1,095 days of cumulative residence in Canada, the new amendment stipulates that: If a Canadian citizen is born abroad, to pass on citizenship to his or her next generation born abroad, he or she must have resided in Canada for at least 1,095 consecutive days in the five consecutive years before the child’s birth.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government introduced the bill in June in response to a court ruling that a provision in the Citizenship Act prohibiting automatic citizenship after two generations was unconstitutional because it restricted the automatic right of children of Canadian citizens born abroad to citizenship. Under the ruling, the minority Liberal government must pass and implement the bill by Nov. 20 to ensure it complies with the constitutional requirements of the Charter of Rights.

The lawmaker said he believed the amendments to naturalization by descent were not unconstitutional because naturalized immigrants were subject to similar regulations.

“Everyone should be satisfied,” Brunelle-Duceppe said. “Am I wrong?”

However, Uyen Hoang, director-general of the Citizenship Department at the federal immigration ministry, pointed out that there is a fundamental difference between naturalization by descent and naturalization.

When asked about the amendments, he said: “These people are automatically Canadian citizens by law at birth. The purpose of this bill is to restore the rights of Canadians who have lost their citizenship. But if these additional conditions are added, it may create a new group of ‘lost Canadians’.”

Once the committee completes the amendments, Bill C-3 will be sent to the House of Commons for debate and finalization before a third reading vote.

If you’re planning a trip to the United States, take note—some travel between Canada and the U.S. just got more expensive. In addition to the $260 visa application fee, there’s now a $350 “integrity fee.”

A new U.S. travel visa rule took effect this week that could cost some Canadians up to $350 more before they even leave. The change stems from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by the US government in July, which introduced a new “visa integrity fee” for certain travellers.

The fee takes effect on October 1, the start of the new fiscal year, and may apply to anyone applying for a U.S. travel visa, including some Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

What is the U.S. Visa Integrity Fee?

The integrity fee is a $250 (about $350 CAD) fee charged to anyone obtaining a non-immigrant visa to the U.S. It’s in addition to the original visa application fee, which already starts at $185 (about $260 CAD) for most travellers. This means that the total visa costs for a family of four applying for a tourist visa could come to around $2,400 Canadian dollars, and that doesn’t include airfare or accommodation. This fee is not optional and cannot be waived under any circumstances. Starting in 2026, this fee will increase annually based on inflation. The fee is nominally intended to deter people from overstaying their visas or violating the terms of their stay.

In theory, travellers who strictly adhere to visa regulations and depart on time can claim a refund – but this is by no means guaranteed.

Who needs to pay this fee?

Not all Canadian travellers will be affected. Most Canadian citizens do not need a visa to travel to the United States for tourism, shopping, or short-term business, so this new rule will not affect them. However, Canadian citizens still need to apply for a non-immigrant visa for some travel purposes, such as:

Traveling to the United States to join your fiancé/fiancé (K-1 and K-2 visas)

Complete family immigration procedures (K-3 and K-4)

Working as a Treaty Trader or Investor (E-1 and E-2)

Serving as a diplomat or international official (A, G, NATO visa)

Assisting in law enforcement operations (S-5, S-6, S-7).

Among the groups hardest hit are Canadian permanent residents. Unlike citizens, most permanent residents must apply for non-immigrant visas for even short visits to the U.S. — and now must pay the integrity fee.

Is this fee refundable?

Technically, yes—but the process is very complicated. Under US law, the integrity fee is refundable, but only if the traveller fully complies with visa regulations and leaves the country within five days of the visa’s expiration date (or obtains an extension or green card before then).The problem is: There’s currently no official refund process, and since many non-immigrant visas are valid for up to 10 years, it could take up to a decade before you’re eligible for a refund.

A nonpartisan assessment released in May by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicted that only a tiny fraction of visa holders would receive a refund.

In its cost analysis, the CBO noted that “a significant number of non-immigrant travellers will not be eligible for a refund for years after paying the fee” and that “it will take years for the State Department to establish a refund process.”

Because of the long-term validity of many visas and the time it takes to establish a refund mechanism, CBO estimates that the integrity fee will generate approximately $28.9 billion in revenue for the U.S. government over the next decade, with virtually no refunds to travellers.

Things passengers need to pay attention to If you are a Canadian citizen planning a normal vacation, you will most likely not be affected. If you are a permanent resident of Canada, or traveling to the United States for work, study, family, or other reasons, you may need a visa – which means you must pay the integrity fee.

The fee is per person, so families or groups will have to pay multiple times. There is no clear refund process, and even if one is established in the future, it may take years to get your money back.

Travellers heading to the United States in the coming months should check the latest travel advice from Canadian officials to confirm the type of visa they require and the total cost.

On September 25, Joel Lightbound, Minister of Government Reform, announced a modernization plan for Canada Post, which aims to stabilize and ensure the survival of the company, which is currently struggling financially with a projected deficit of $1.5 billion by 2025.

One of the main points is to abolish home delivery of mail and allow people to receive it at community mailboxes. According to the government, about three-quarters of the country’s population already uses community mailboxes, and switching the remaining 4 million households to community mailboxes will save $400 million annually. The transition is expected to take about nine years, but most of it is expected to be completed in the first four years. Elderly and disabled people will be able to choose home delivery once a week or other means.

Additionally, given the current decline in mail volume, the plan will allow non-urgent mail to be shipped by ground rather than air, saving $20 million annually. However, delivery times for standard mail, currently two to four days, will be reduced to three to seven business days.

The ban on post office closures in rural areas will also be lifted. This ban, which applies to 4,000 post offices, has not been revised for nearly 30 years, and many areas that were once rural are now suburban or urban. However, post offices will remain open in rural, remote, and indigenous communities where they are needed.

“For generations, Canada Post has connected communities and provided a vital lifeline. Today, people still rely on Canada Post,” Minister Lightbound said, adding that bold action was needed to ensure the service continued.

On September 21, the Canadian government announced that it would recognize the state of Palestine, becoming the first G7 country, along with the UK, to do so.

Prime Minister Mark Carney stated, “Since 1947, every Canadian administration has maintained a policy of supporting a two-state solution for lasting peace in the Middle East,” and aimed to build a future in peace and security for a viable Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel. However, he expressed concern that the two-state solution is becoming difficult due to factors such as “the widespread terrorist threat posed by Hamas to Israel and its people,” “the rapid expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and the escalation of settler violence against Palestinians,” “the Israeli parliament’s vote this year to annex the West Bank,” and “the Israeli government’s involvement in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

Canada has stated that it recognizes the State of Palestine and is committed to working with the State of Israel to build the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel. While Canada does not believe recognition is a panacea, it emphasizes that it is “firmly in line with the principles of self-determination and fundamental human rights as enshrined in the UN Charter, and with Canada’s consistent policy over many years.”

“The Palestinian Authority has made direct commitments to Canada and the international community regarding essential reforms, including fundamental reforms to governance, holding general elections in 2026 without Hamas’ involvement, and a demilitarized Palestinian state. Canada will intensify its efforts to support the implementation of this reform plan, which is already making progress, and will work with international partners to support the establishment of a credible peace plan, democratic governance, a clear security architecture, and the delivery of sustained, substantial humanitarian assistance to Gaza,” the statement concluded.

Prime Minister Carney reiterated his support for the recognition of the state of Palestine at the 80th United Nations General Assembly held this year. On July 30, the Prime Minister announced that the Canadian government intended to formally recognize Palestine as a state at the UN General Assembly in September.

The latest data from Statistics Canada shows that Canada’s population growth almost stagnated in the second quarter of this year, increasing by only47,098people, a growth rate of only0.1%. This figure is the same as in the first quarter of this year, setting a new low in recent years.

Canada’s current total population is 41.65 million. In comparison, between 2021 and 2024, Canada’s population experienced rapid growth, with an average quarterly increase of 217,000 people over three years. The main reason for the stagnation in population growth is the outflow of non-permanent residents. The number of temporary residents fell by nearly 60,000 between April 1 and July 1 this year. This is the highest number of temporary residents leaving the country since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, matched only by the third quarter of 1971.

The change stems from immigration restrictions implemented by the federal government last year. The influx of international students and temporary foreign workers into Canada between 2021 and 2024 has sparked concerns about housing shortages and rising living costs, putting pressure on the federal government to limit the influx of non-permanent residents.

To address this issue, the government introduced a series of policy adjustments in 2024, with the goal of limiting the number of temporary residents to less than 5% of the total population by the end of 2026. These measures are gradually taking effect. In October 2024, the number of temporary residents reached 7.6% of the total population, but has now fallen to 7.3%, or about 3 million people. So far this year, there has been a net outflow of approximately 120,000 non-permanent residents from Canada. The impact has been particularly pronounced among international students, with the number of international students holding study permits falling by 32,025 between April and July. This represents a drop of nearly 18% in the past year alone. However, the decline in the total number of temporary residents was mitigated somewhat by an increase in the number of asylum seekers, which has risen by 25 per cent since July 2024.

The demographic shift has also had another impact: Canada’s aging population is resurfacing. Over the past year, the median age of the Canadian population has risen from 40.3 to 40.6 years. It is worth noting that the aging trend of the population was once alleviated due to the influx of many young new immigrants between 2021 and 2024. However, this trend has reappeared as the number of young immigrants has decreased.

The statistics reflect the direct effects of Canada’s immigration policy adjustments. The government’s measures to ease housing and living cost pressures by limiting the number of temporary residents is producing the desired results, but they also bring new challenges from slowing population growth and a changing age structure.

This sharp change in population growth marks the end of Canada’s rapid population expansion in recent years and the beginning of a new phase of more stable but slower growth.

According to B.C.’s Minister of Health, Josie Osborne, 140 American health care workers have been hired in B.C. since May, including eight allied health professionals, 80 nurses, 16 nurse practitioners, and 38 doctors, with more expected. The British Columbia government launched a recruitment campaign for health care workers in June and July in select cities in Washington, Oregon, and California, and is continuing the campaign through academic journals and other means.

British Columbia has undertaken various initiatives to attract American medical professionals. For nurses, the province has expedited the certification process for nurses educated and certified in the United States. 535 nurses and 104 nurse practitioners are already registered with the BC Nurse-Midwives Association. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia also amended its bylaws to allow American-educated doctors to practice in British Columbia without additional evaluation, examination, or training. As a result, 29 doctors have been registered to date.

In a statement, the provincial government said that at a time when American society is shaken by uncertainty, many American healthcare professionals are attracted to British Columbia’s science-based approach, its commitment to reproductive rights, and its universal health care system, meaning residents can expect better healthcare services.