Health committee  We have briefed industry and we've placed numerous calls and written letters to both the airlines. WestJet has expressed interest in having a discussion with us. We haven't heard anything from Air Canada. We've been pursuing open dialogue and collaboration on the issue, but at this point we haven't managed to solidify any discussion.

Health committee  I would ask for a subsequent meeting and to have the airlines present. In the absence of having any representation from the airline, there may be a solution that's not obvious to us, that we're missing. I think you're right that when parties are forced to come together to come up with solutions, there may often be a third door that opens that may not be apparent to us.

Health committee  I would agree with that. In addition to British Airways, we can also look at Cathay and Southwest Airlines, which also don't allow pets on board. So we would ask for a complete ban, as well as a notification to passengers if a service animal is on board a flight. I will note that it's disappointing that the airlines aren't here today to clarify the policy and the rationale for this decision.

Health committee  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.