Quebec police hand out speeding tickets as construction holiday begins
On Thursday morning, officers with the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) began increased surveillance on Highway 50 in Mirabel and Highway 20 in the Rivière-Beaudette region of Vaudreuil-Soulanges, both of which are considered collision-prone areas.
Police issued more than 260 statements of offence, including 146 speeding tickets, during the operation.
In what the SQ calls a 'zero zone' approach, the force says it is strategically intervening in areas where the most crashes occur.
Police traditionally step up surveillance during the two-week period, when many Quebecers take to the roads for vacation, as it is considered one of the deadliest times of year for road accidents.
Last year, the SQ reported 17 fatal collisions resulting in 18 deaths between July 19 and Aug. 4.
In 2023, there were 19 collisions resulting in 24 deaths for the same period.
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CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
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The union, representing more than 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, said the vote is needed to push for a fair agreement after months of negotiations. If no collective agreement is reached, the union said a strike could happen as early as Aug. 16. Bargaining is expected to resume at the end of next week regardless of the outcome of the vote, it added. 'Always have a backup plan' As the union gets ready to resume talks with Air Canada, Weatherhead advises passengers to start planning for a possible strike, such as booking a flight, rental car and hotel that can be cancelled at the last minute. 'I would always have a backup plan when you hear of these things potentially happening,' she said. 'Try to book something that you could cancel, so that way, if the strike doesn't happen, then you can just cancel that other flight and stick with your original one.' It's also worth paying extra for a refundable ticket, she added. 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It may be best to stick to your travel plans, even if the airline offers to change a flight for free, Lukacs added, because the airline will not reimburse you for any expenses you incur when you pre-emptively adjust your flight plans or travel plans. For cancellations that are within the airline's control, Lukacs said the airline is responsible for meals, accommodation and a lump sum compensation up to $1,000 per passenger based on the length of the delay. Once the strike officially happens, the airline doesn't owe passengers any lump sum compensation under the APPR, although passengers travelling internationally may seek reimbursement for their expenses under the Montreal Convention, he said. Similar rules apply if a flight is delayed by at least three hours, he added. What are flight attendants asking for? Since 2000, the union representing flight attendants says entry-level wages have only risen 10 per cent, or $3 per hour, while inflation has increased 169 per cent. 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'Air Canada is committed to the bargaining process and remains fully available to continue negotiations towards a fair and equitable collective agreement with CUPE that recognizes the contributions of its Flight Attendants and supports the competitiveness and long-term growth of the company,' the statement reads. What's happening with negotiations? The union expects a 'very high majority' of its members to approve a strike mandate next week, Lesosky told in a phone interview from 100 Mile House, B.C., on Friday. The strike would be a 'last resort' if the union and Air Canada fail to reach a deal, Lesosky added. 'Nobody wants to strike,' he said. 'The goal is to come to an agreement … I think the best deal will be one met through the bargaining table.' Lesosky said he is 'hopeful' a strike won't happen but 'there's big issues that need to be resolved.' He said wages, unpaid work and pensions are sticking points.
CTV News
5 days ago
- CTV News
Delays, cancellations, compensation disputes, Canada's transport agency is drowning in airline complaints
Travellers look at the arrival and departure board at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport in Montreal, Friday, Sept.13, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press) A backlog of 85,000 complaints from air passengers is piling up at the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), and one advocate says the system is failing passengers. From delays and cancellations to compensation disputes, the CTA is drowning in complaints. 'It is going to take them more than two years to deal with just a current backlog,' said Air Passenger Rights founder Gabor Lukacs. Since the CTA resolution office launched in 2023, the number of complaints continues to grow. Lukacs said that the agency's method of dealing with grievances is complicated and ultimately fails customers. 'In Canada, they have this system where the airline will say, 'Well, it's outside our control, so we don't have to pay you anything,' he said, adding that, from the airline's perspective, it's easier and more profitable to refuse to pay and instead tell passengers to file a complaint through the CTA. 'So the Canadian Transportation Agency has the power to fine airlines that don't obey the law, but they're not using those powers,' he said. The CTA said it's proposing charging airlines nearly $800 for each eligible complaint, but for some airlines, the proposal is not welcome. 'Charging airlines $790 for each complaint, including the vast majority when we are found to have applied the legislation correctly, would not be balanced nor an equitable way of addressing the issue,' said Air Canada in a statement. "Air Canada cooperates with the CTA on a continuous basis, and our standard is to respond swiftly to all files transmitted by the agency and meet their response deadlines." 'The Canadian Transportation Agency's punitive proposal reflects a troubling disconnect between the Agency and the realities of Canada's economy and aviation sector,' said Westjet. 'Imposing additional costs on Canadian travellers, in an industry already oversaturated with high government taxes and fees, is very concerning—particularly during an affordability crisis in Canada." Westjet adds that the agency's priority should be dealing with improving its administration and reducing wait times. The CTA said, however, that in 2024-2025, the agency closed over 33,600 complaints, but did not say how many were resolved in favour of passengers. Lukacs said he's taking the CTA to court due to the agency's lack of transparency. 'Because not only that, it takes more than two years, and they have a huge backlog,' he said. 'They're also trying to gag passengers who have a case before them.' In the meantime, he says that if passengers have complaints against airlines, heading to a small claims court is a better option. CTV News reached out to Canada's Ministry of Transportation for comment, but did not hear back.
CTV News
25-07-2025
- CTV News
Here's how to get a refund on your Quebec day camp
You've registered for – and paid for – a day camp for the kids, but now your summer plans have changed. Are you entitled to a full or partial refund? You sure are, according to Quebec's Consumer Protection Office. According to the office, if you cancel your plans before the start of the camp, you won't have to pay any additional fees or penalties. In an email sent to Noovo Info, the OPC explained that you will be entitled to a full refund of the amount you've already paid. If you cancel after the camp has started, you will still be required to pay for the services already provided, and the day camp organizers may also charge a penalty equal to the lesser of $50 or 10 per cent of the cost of the services not received. 'For example, your contract provides for a 10-day stay at a rate of $40 per day. You cancel after two days. You will be charged a penalty of $32, which corresponds to 10 per cent of the cost of the remaining eight days,' explained the OPC. The law doesn't apply to certain camps, including camps run by public institutions, such as a municipal recreation department. Here's how to cancel To cancel, send the day camp a written notice or fill out the cancellation form that accompanied the contract you signed upon registration. The OPC recommends sending the documents by registered mail. The contract is cancelled upon sending the form or notice. From the date the letter is sent, the camp has 10 days to reimburse you, if applicable., the office explained. What if the camp refuses to refund me? If your day camp refuses to reimburse you according to the regulations outlined above, the Consumer Protection Office recommends that you should call the office to file a complaint. The office will provide you with an information kit including a formal notice form on the Office's letterhead that you can use to escalate the claim. If that approach doesn't result in a refund, you could then turn to small claims court. - With a report from Émile Bérubé-Lupien at Noovo Info
