{January 31, 2011) VICTORIA, BC - Consumer Protection BC offers the following information about the current situation in Egypt for Canadian citizens.

This morning, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, made an official statement regarding the evacuation of Canadian citizens from Egypt.  Please view that statement here as it contains important information.

The press release from the Government of Canada states that it “is offering chartered flights for individuals wishing to be transported out of Egypt. These flights will take them to locations in Europe such as London, Paris or Frankfurt. Canadian citizens are required to make their own onward travel plans from these locations.”

Sometimes an unexpected event happens that causes travel plans to be changed or cancelled altogether.  Although at this time, we have not heard of any additional assistance for Canadians who were traveling in Egypt, Canadian travelers may wish to consider the following:

1. Contact Your Travel Agent: If you booked with a travel agent, contact your booking agent for assistance. They will be able to help you with your options for re-booking.
2. Check With your Credit Card Provider: If you paid by credit card, check with your credit card company to see what coverage you may have.
3. Confirm With Your Insurance Company: If you purchased travel insurance, contact the insurance company to find out the details of your policy.
4. Look Into Your Options: Stay in contact with the Canadian government and the airlines to see if any arrangements are being made.
5. Confirm Your Cancellation Rights: If you are canceling future travel to Egypt, find out about the details of the cancellation policy in your travel contract.

This type of situation falls outside of the mandate of BC’s Travel Assurance Fund, however if you have any questions about this Fund, please contact us.  We also offer information and resources for BC travel consumers and businesses at www.travelrightsbc.ca.

Evacuation Contact Information:

• Canadian citizens in Egypt wishing to be evacuated should contact the Canadian Embassy in Cairo at 20 [2] 2791-8700 or call collect to the DFAIT Emergency Operations Centre at 613-996-8885.
• Friends and relatives in Canada seeking information on Canadian citizens believed to be in Egypt should contact DFAIT’s Operations Centre by calling 1-800-606-5499, or by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Registration of Canadians Travelling Abroad:

All Canadians travelling or living abroad should register with the Canadian government.  The Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) is a free service that enables you to sign up and be contacted and assisted by government officials in case of an emergency abroad, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or informed about an emergency at home.

Consumer Protection BC is a not-for-profit corporation that was created to strengthen consumer protection in BC and enforce consumer protection laws. We balance the interests of all parties to promote a marketplace that is fair for both BC consumers and businesses. We license and inspect specific industries, respond to inquiries through our Inquiry Centre, investigate alleged violations of consumer protection laws, and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities under the law.  For more information about our organization, please visit our corporate website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.

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