Safari Nordik: Assistance to Unsatisfied Customers and Advisory Notice to Consumers
Several customers of the Safari Nordik outfitting operation have had their caribou hunting packages in Northern Québec postponed until next year. The company claims the Québec government does not issue them enough hunting licences for all its customers.
If you have purchased such a package and are unsatisfied with this postponement, here are the details concerning the recourse options available to you. If you planned on purchasing a package from Safari Nordik, please take note of the advisory notice from the Office de la protection du consommateur.
Potential recourse against Safari Nordik
If you are not a resident of Québec, the Office recommends that you seek legal counsel for advice as to where you can exercise a recourse and to check whether you can initiate proceedings under Québec law.
If you take legal action against Safari Nordik under Québec law, the Office suggests that you base your recourse on the following grounds:On its Web site, Safari Nordik indicates that should the outfitting operation cancel a reservation, customers will be reimbursed unless an acceptable alternative solution is agreed upon. You could therefore request that the company respect its commitment. Under the Travel Agents Act, a person may apply for the annulment of a contract entered into with any person or body acting as a travel agent without a licence issued by the Office. Safari Nordik does not hold such a licence, whereas it should. You could therefore ask that your contract be annulled and request the reimbursement of any amounts paid to the outfitter.
Advisory notice: Activities of a travel agent without a licence
Safari Nordik carries out travel agent activities without a licence. The Office wishes to caution consumers. In addition to services normally provided by outfitting operations, Safari Nordik also offers packages that include air transportation, usually from Montréal to Kuujjuaq. A licence is required to offer such services. Safari Nordik is in fact currently the subject of penal proceedings on this issue.
The company does, however, hold the licence required to provide lodging and sport hunting services to its customers. This outfitter’s licence, which is different from the one from the Office, is issued by the Québec Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks.
The Office recommends that you purchase tourism services from travel agencies that hold a licence issued by the Office. The agency is required to post a security bond with the Office. This is a monetary amount that could be used to provide you with compensation should the agency fail to fulfill its obligations.
In addition, when you do business with a travel agent that is licensed by the Office, you benefit from the protection provided by the Compensation Fund for Customers of Travel Agents. This Fund allows you to be reimbursed if your travel agency or a provider (air carrier, hotel, etc.) is unable to provide the services you have purchased.
To find out if the agency with which you do business holds a licence, use the search tool Get information about a merchant. To find out more about the protection available to consumers, go to Travel with coverage.
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The information contained on this page is presented in simple terms to make it easier to understand. It does not replace the texts of the laws and regulations.
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