{August 16, 2006} VICTORIA, BC – The Business Practices & Consumer Protection Authority (BPCPA) is announcing that the processing of all claims filed with the Travel Assurance Fund due to the failure of Canada 3000 Airlines is now complete. All eligible claimants who did not receive some, or all, of their Canada 3000 travel services due to the airline failure have been compensated.

The four associated companies that filed for bankruptcy following the cessation of operations by Canada 3000 are Canada 3000 Airlines, C3 Leisure Ltd. (Canada 3000 Holidays), Holiday Travel Consultants Ltd. (Canada 3000 Tickets), and Canada 300 Sales Limited (Canada 3000 Sales). Through the Travel Assurance Fund, the BPCPA has reimbursed over $242,500 to more than 260 Canada 3000 Airlines claimants and as well as over $65,000 to approximately 80 Canada 3000 Tickets claimants.

Immediately following the collapse of Canada 3000, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was appointed the Judicial Trustee for all money paid into the Canada 3000 Holidays trust fund. Clients of Canada 3000 Holidays received reimbursement from PwC over three payments with the final payment being made in December of 2005. The PwC payments represent full eligible compensation for the airline failure. As a result, all claims received by the Travel Assurance Fund against Canada 3000 Holidays are deemed ineligible and no further action will be taken by the BPCPA through the Travel Assurance Fund.

Money paid to Canada 3000 Tickets and Canada 3000 Airlines was not held in trust, therefore PwC was unable to provide a refund. All affected clients were encouraged to make an application to the Travel Assurance Fund. The failure of Canada 3000 was treated as a single event and the Travel Assurance Fund was not able to provide compensation until all outstanding issues surrounding the failure of Canada 3000 Airlines were resolved. Payments to all eligible Canada 3000 Tickets and Airlines claimants commenced in the first week of February 2006. All eligible claimants have now been compensated and claimants with ineligible claims have been notified in writing.

Eligibility for claims against Canada 3000 is limited to consumers who purchased travel services through a British Columbia licensed travel agency and who did not receive some or all of their Canada 3000 travel services. Compensation was provided for the original cost of Canada 3000 travel services purchased and not received. Additional expenses such as alternate transportation, lost wages or additional expenses incurred are not eligible. At the time of the Canada 3000 failure, only individuals who were BC residents were eligible to apply.

The Travel Assurance Fund is administered by the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority and is established under the Travel Industry Regulation. It is funded by contributions from BC licensed travel agents and wholesalers. Individuals may claim to the Fund if they paid a licensed BC travel agent for travel services that were not received. Contributors may also claim to the Travel Assurance Fund in the event that they have suffered a loss as a result of either reimbursing a client or providing alternate transportation after not receiving some or all of the payment for the travel services from a BC licensed travel agent.

The following claimants are asked to contact the BPCPA office at 1-888-564-9963 ext 2815 to update their address and telephone number. If these claimants do not contact the Travel Assurance Fund by October 30, 2006, their file will be closed.

If you have filed an outstanding claim with the Travel Assurance Fund against Canada 3000 and have any questions, please contact the BPCPA office at 1-888-564-9963 ext 2815.

About the BPCPA
The Business Practices & Consumer Protection Authority (BPCPA) is a not-for-profit organization which operates at arm's length from government. On July 4, 2004, the Authority assumed responsibility for the oversight of business practices and consumer protection in British Columbia. The Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority has three legislated purposes:

• to deliver consumer protection services throughout British Columbia,
• to promote fairness and understanding in the marketplace, and
• to administer in the public interest any delegated Act.

For more information about the BPCPA, please call 1-888-564-9963 toll-free in Canada & the USA, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.bpcpa.ca