Opposition critics call on Transport Minister Omar Alghabra to appear at upcoming meetings on Transportation disruptions over holidays

The cancellations and flight issues of December will make
for just one of a number of topics on transportation 
at planned Special Session of the Federal Transport Committee

The Federal Minister of Transport may have kept things going for Santa on Christmas Eve, but when it came to the rest of the Christmas and New year's travel period, the opposition in Ottawa have some questions for him.

After a Holiday period that featured a fair bit of chaos for travellers in many corners of the nation, the Opposition in Ottawa is set to make sure that Transport Minister Omar Alghabra gets his invitation to an upcoming session for the Federal Transport Committee. 

Its members seemingly ready to discuss the list of challenges faced by Canadians  and visitors alike  at airports and railway stations these last few weeks.

While Operations at the Prince Rupert airport were spared some of the troubles facing other communities over the holidays, travellers out of the Digby Island Airport, as well as airports in Terrace, Smithers and Haida Gwaii did see disruptions, delays and cancellations, that owing to a range of issues in the main Vancouver hub of YVR.

Flight operations there were hampered by two back to back weather systems that brought the airport to a near standstill just ahead of Christmas and made for a number of issues for those trying to get anywhere through YVR.

December 23 -- Delays, Cancellations marked Prince Rupert Northwest Air Travel during busy Holiday period 
December 22 -- Vancouver area weather alerts already making for travel cancellations for Northwest travellers for Friday 

Conservative MP Chuck Strahl from Chilliwack and NDP MP Taylor Bachrach from Skeena-Bulkley Valley forwarded a letter to the Minster today, noting of both the travel issues and horrid customer service in their call for the Minster to attend the upcoming session.

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No date has been set for the Special Meeting of the Transport Committee, once requested it's anticipated that such a session would take place within five days of the call.

Mr Bachrach who is a member of the Transport Committee followed up on his letter today with a few thoughts through his Social Media page.

MP's won't have to do much research on the topic, they are already hearing more than a few comments from constituents on the state of travel in the country.  

And a quick look back at the archives of the holiday period will find more than a few first hand observations on the chaos that reigned at many airports and railway stations.

More notes on Air Travel to the Northwest can be explored here.

Further items of note from Ottawa can be reviewed from our House of Commons Archive.