Calgarians aid Ukrainian refugees using WestJet buddy passes; company says no more
Michael Garnett, a former pro hockey player in the NHL and more recently a goaltender of 10 years in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League, says he is devastated to see the destruction caused to Ukraine by Russia.
“My wife and I have been inside Ukraine during the war and we’ve heard the air-raid sirens and that changes you,” said Garnett from his Calgary home.
Garnett and his wife, Rebecca Rider, who is a pilot with WestJet, say their charity, Help from Canada, aids in alleviating poverty and helping resettle refugees from Ukraine.
“Europe is completely saturated with Ukrainian refugees and I feel a moral responsibility ... to take some of that burden off of Europe,” said Garnett.
The couple have asked WestJet colleagues to donate buddy passes to help bring refugees from parts of Europe to Canada. So far, 198 have been flown by the charity on those passes. But the company says it goes against their guidelines.
“We thought we were complying with their policies. That is still our position,” said Garnett.
WestJet spokesperson April Crane says the passes are for personal leisure travel only for friends and families of employees.
“(Buddy passes) are standby travel, it is not guaranteed,” said Crane.
“At any point, you can not make the flight, you can be removed during a segment, you could even be asked to get up and give up a seat if there's a revenue-paying guest before the doors close.”
She says employee travel privileges are not designed to support charitable or not-for-profit efforts.
“When WestJetters transfer their buddy passes to their friends and family, the obligation is on us to make sure that those people understand all of those risks and all of the things that go around buddy pass use,” said Crane.
Garnett says he has had to stop accepting requests from refugees looking to come to Canada, due to WestJet’s policy.
Twenty-nine people are expected in the coming weeks.
Garnett says he and his wife will honour that demand, not booking refugees with buddy passes, but hopes to work with the airline or others.
“I will personally guarantee, we will get these people over here. If it's out of my own money, we are not going to leave anyone hanging,” he said.
“We would love to find a way to fit within (WestJet’s) policies within their charitable arm to continue and bring as many people over, Ukrainian refugees, as we can.”
Garnett says late Monday, WestJet responded to his email seeking clarification.
In it, the company is offering 50 per cent off promo codes for Ukrainian refugees, if flights and travel are booked and completed by Sept. 30.
The codes are only available on WestJet flights from Europe to Canada and they must have proof of receiving their visa to enter Canada through the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) program.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.