I’ve flown several times so far this summer, and it’s been better than I expected. But I have a couple advantages, including a Nexus card that gets me in a faster lineup at security and a MUCH faster lineup at U.S. Customs when I’m flying from Canada. Still, there are a few things to keep in mind if you’re flying any time soon. Here a few thoughts. Do NOT check your bag unless you absolutely have to. You’ll probably save money (unless you’re a frequent flyer program member with status, most airlines will make you pay for a checked bag), Read more
July 2022
A Dragon’s Den star who heads up a massive beer, wine and spirits empire. The only female master distiller in the province. And production manager at the 2021 Canadian Brewery of the Year. The spirits and beer scene is going strong in Calgary, and women are front and centre, as I discover during a recent visit. . An hour’s drive south of Calgary, in the bucolic town of Turner Valley, Winnipeg-born, Scotland-raised Caitlin Quinn is the master distiller at Eau Claire Distillery, the first boutique distillery in Alberta. Quinn got an undergrad degree chemistry, but quickly realized it wouldn’t lead Read more
The Trudeau government says it’s making it easier for Canadians to get their passports renewed, or to acquire new ones. Lineups have been horrific in several major Canadian cities this summer as the demand for travel soars. But Ottawa says the government is taking solid action, including the use of mpre than 300 Service Canada Centres. “The recent increase in passport demand combined with the longer processing times have resulted in a growing number of Canadians requiring their passport applications be transferred to local passport offices for processing in order to get them in time to travel,” officials said. “This Read more
Toronto Pearson continues to experience some of the highest rates of delayed flights around the world, and the critics are pouncing. But we’re also seeing problems at the Toronto City Centre/Island Airport and at Montreal Trudeau. The airline tracking website Flight Aware sparked a worldwide condemnation of Canada’s busiest airport when it reported that Pearson’s delay rate for the period from May 26 to July 9 was 52.5%. That was the highest in the world, and Pearson was the only airport on the planet with a cancellation rate higher than 50%. Things started to get better, but progress seems to Read more
Air Transat is getting a $150 million assistance package from the Trudeau government. Transat A.T. Inc. announced today that it has reached an agreement with Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (“CEEFC”), a federal Crown corporation, to obtain $100 million in added financing, as well as $50 million in credit. “In this final LEEFF (Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility) loan, Transat will receive up to $150 million to protect Canadian jobs and ensure operations can continue, despite the company’s ongoing capital operating challenges as a result of the pandemic,” the government said in a press released. “The amount consists of $100 Read more
