Thank you.
Madam Chair and members of the committee, on behalf of the Canadian Lung Association, thank you for the opportunity to come before you today to address our concern about the decision by Canada's airlines to allow pets to travel in the passenger cabins of airplanes.
At the outset, let me thank you, Madam Chair, and vice-chairs Ms. Wasylycia-Leis and Ms. Murray, for being so attentive to this issue, and all committee members for agreeing to today's meeting.
I want to take a moment to explain how the Lung Association became aware of the problem of pets in passenger airplane cabins.
In May 2008, a Lung Association volunteer with severe allergies to pets attempted to board a WestJet flight departing from St. John's. At the last minute he noticed a passenger with a cat carrier standing in line behind him about to get on the plane. As he was fearful that he might have a severe allergic reaction to the cat while mid-flight, the volunteer asked to be placed on a different flight. Unfortunately, he was refused. He subsequently bought a ticket with Air Canada, which at that point did not allow pets to travel in the cabin.
Based on this experience by one of our volunteers, the Lung Association contacted WestJet to clarify its policy in regard to animals on board planes. We learned that WestJet allows up to two dogs, cats, birds, or rabbits to travel in the passenger cabin on every flight, and they do not let passengers know which flights will include pets.
To ensure a safe trip for allergic passengers, we asked WestJet to consider offering pet-free flights. WestJet indicated that they were not willing to change existing policies, instead preferring to seat people with lung disease and allergies several rows apart from any animals.
In July 2009 Air Canada began to allow pets in airplane cabins as well, something it had not previously allowed. As we had done with WestJet, the Lung Association wrote to Air Canada's president and CEO requesting that the airline consider our recommendation to make air travel safer for people with pet allergies. Like WestJet, Air Canada rejected our recommendations, speaking of their desire to be pet-friendly.
Given that both major national airlines now permit pets in the passenger cabin and knowing that this puts at risk a large number of Canadians with lung disease, the Lung Association felt compelled to take this issue to the Canadian public. In late June 2009 we commissioned four questions in an Angus Reid omnibus poll asking Canadians to let us know their feelings on the issue, the results of which I'm happy to table with the committee. Eighty per cent of Canadians stated that they wanted Canada's airlines to offer pet-free flights, and seventy-five per cent of Canadians said they felt the federal government had a responsibility to act on this issue in the interest of protecting passengers and crew members who have asthma and severe pet allergies.
We then conducted a national web-based advocacy campaign. This was advertised only through word-of-mouth and earned media. In the 12 weeks of the campaign nearly 3,000 Canadians came to our website to send letters to members of the health committee and to the CEOs of Air Canada and WestJet to call for hearings on the issue of pets on planes. We were impressed at the large number of Canadians who expressed concern about this issue and who urged airlines and government to protect them and their family members from the possibility of a serious allergic reaction mid-flight.
The Lung Association is extremely concerned about the health of airline passengers and crew who may suffer from severe allergies to pets. I do wish to highlight that prior to this meeting today, the Lung Association spoke with a representative from WestJet, who informed us that in the last 18 months, 25% of their flights had a pet on board the airplane. This number excludes service animals. The average number of animals per flight was 1.2. We're conscious that any solution we propose will not be perfect, but the association is committed to a compromise that serves to reduce the risk presented to those with asthma or pet allergies that could be exacerbated by exposure to an animal.
Our recommendation to your committee is that you ask the airlines to ban pets in the passenger cabins of airplanes. People with lung disease should not be prevented from travelling by aircraft. At the same time, we do not want to see people with other disabilities who require service animals denied access to an aircraft. As such, we recommend that on flights where a service animal is present, passengers be informed in advance and given the option of either staying on board the flight or being moved to the next available flight at the airline's cost. Although this compromise is not perfect, it will greatly reduce exposure to pet allergens and the risk of asthma episodes.
We believe that in an age where Canadians can pre-select their meals, their seats, and numerous other options associated with travel, existing information systems can easily accommodate requests from people with pet allergies to be booked on a flight with no pets in the cabin.
Many people love pets. Indeed, many members of the Lung Association are also pet owners. This is not about trying to deny people the privilege of travelling with their pets. Rather, this is about finding an important middle ground that balances the love of our pets with the health and safety of airline passengers and crew who are at risk due to their allergies and asthma.
Thank you, Madam Chair.