• Documentation and publications
• To contact us
• Assistance programs
  • Air transportation
  • Maritime transport
  • Route verte
  • Rail transport
• Services to the public

The objective of this program is to allow residents of certain outlying and isolated regions of Québec to travel at reduced cost, for personal reasons and when accompanying a patient who requires healthcare services, through a partial refund of their airfare.

The following persons are eligible for the program:

• Anyone who inhabits a permanent dwelling in one of the communities in the regions covered by the program;
• Anyone who is registered as a full-time student in an educational institution that is located outside of the regions covered by the program, and whose parents or legal tutors reside in a community that is covered by the program.

The following persons are not eligible for the program:

• Residents whose airfare is paid for, either in whole or in part, by a federal or provincial ministry, an organization, a board, a healthcare centre, a loyalty program, a corporation, a private firm, or any level of government, including a Native Band Council
• Medical personnel, patients, and the person who is accompanying a patient whose airfare is paid by the healthcare centre that serves the communities that are covered by the program, or by any other institution that is under the jurisdiction of the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

This program covers the time period between April 1 and the following March 31. The maximum annual refund to which a resident is entitled is calculated on the basis of this time period.

Section 1 – A and B

For residents of Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Basse-Côte-Nord (from Kegaska to Blanc-Sablon), Île d'Anticosti, Schefferville, the Matimekosh, Lac John, and Kawawachikamach Native reserves, and Nord-du-Québec (Nunavik) whose communities are not linked to the road network, whether or not water or rail passenger service is available:

Eligible expenses

• The cost of airfare for a regularly scheduled flight within Québec having a point of origin or destination that corresponds to the applicant’s place of residence or another community in the same region that is eligible for the program;
• Individual cost of a charter flight with regard to school and extracurricular activities;
• Individual cost of a charter flight within Québec whose point of origin or destination is the place of residence of the eligible resident, if there are no regularly scheduled flights.

Refunds

Section 1A: For residents of communities that are not linked to the road network, and for which water or rail passenger service is not available:

• 30% of the total cost of airfare.
• Maximum annual amount that a resident may be refunded: $1,050.

Section 1B: For residents of communities that are not linked to the road network, but for which water or rail passenger service is available:

• 30% of the total cost of airfare.
• Maximum annual amount that a resident may be refunded: $700.

For the purposes of this section, school activities include study-related activities, while extracurricular activities include any activity that is organized by a school board or school, and that is intended for the school population.

Section 2

For residents of Côte-Nord (from Rivière-au-Tonnerre to Natashquan), Fermont, and Nord-du-Québec (Baie-James) communities that are linked to the road network:

Eligible expenses

The cost of airfare for a regularly scheduled flight within Québec having a point of origin or destination that corresponds to the applicant’s place of residence or another community in the same region that is eligible for the program, or the designated airport¹ , if no regular air transportation service is offered in the applicant’s community.

Refund

• 30% of the total cost of airfare.
• Maximum annual amount that a resident may be refunded: $500 .

Section 3 – A and B

For residents of all communities that are covered by the program who are accompanying a patient who is covered by the travel policy applicable to the users of a healthcare centre, and who requires healthcare services in an institution outside of his or her community:

Eligible expenses

• The cost of airfare for a regularly scheduled flight within Québec having a point of origin or destination that corresponds to the applicant’s place of residence or another community in the same region that is eligible for the program, or the designated airport¹ , if no regular air transportation service is offered in the applicant’s community, or the airport designated by the healthcare centre.

Refund

Section 3A: For residents of communities that are not linked to the road network, and for which water or rail passenger service is not available:

• 40% of the total cost of airfare.
• Maximum amount that a resident may be refunded for accompanying a person: $750 ².

Section 3B: For residents of communities that are linked to the road network, and for which water or rail passenger service is available:

• 40% of the total cost of airfare.
• Maximum amount that a resident may be refunded for accompanying a person: $500 ² .

*1 Designated airports: Chibougamau, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Natashquan, Val-d'Or, and Wabush.

*2 The possible annual refund obtained under section 3 is added to the refund that a resident may obtain under section 1A, 1B, or 2. Please note that only one of the sections can be used with respect to a single trip.

• A- The attached form, with the main section filled out and signed;
• B- Proof of residency;
• C- Student’s proof of school attendance;
• D- Proof of purchase and proof of travel;
• E- The attached form, with the health section filled out and signed.

A - Refund Claim Form: main section

In order to obtain a refund, the person whose name appears on the airplane ticket must complete and sign the main section of the attached form.

In the case of a minor person, the person who has parental authority must complete and sign the attached form in the appropriate places.

B- Proof of residency

A resident must provide a copy of his or her proof of residency when making the first refund claim each year.

In order to be accepted, the proof of residency must contain the claimant’s name and address, as well as the date of the year in progress. The document must have been issued by a governmental or municipal body, a service company (Hydro-Québec, Bell, Telus, etc.), or in the case of a lease, by the owner of a rental-housing unit.

C- Proof of school attendance

In the case of a student who is registered full-time in an educational institution that is located outside of the communities that are covered by the program, a registrar’s letter or a tuition receipt issued by the institution is accepted, in addition to the parents’ or legal tutor’s proof of residency.

D- Proof of purchase and proof of travel

The refund claim must be accompanied by a proof of purchase or an invoice that includes the name of the person who paid for the airplane ticket.

The refund claim must also be accompanied by a proof of travel, including the airplane ticket and, in the case of an electronic ticket, the boarding pass issued by the carrier, including the passenger’s name, the itinerary, and the price, including taxes.

In the case of a charter flight, the refund claim must be accompanied by a receipt, issued by the carrier, including the passenger’s name, the itinerary, the date(s) of travel, and the price per passenger, including taxes.

E- Refund Claim Form: health section

In the case of a person who is accompanying a patient, the person whose name is on the airplane ticket must complete and sign the main section of the attached form. This person must also have the health section completed and signed by an authorized representative of the healthcare centre.

The refund claim form is presented in Word format. It can be filled out on-screen and saved in a file. However, it cannot be transmitted online.

• Refund Claim Form

To obtain additionnal information on following subjects :

• Information concerning the air carrier
• Penalties
• Social Insurance Number
• Mailing addresses for refund claims

For more information, please contact the following organizations:

- Residents of Côte-Nord should contact the Ministère des Transports du Québec's Havre-Saint-Pierre Services Centre, at 418 538-2866;

- Residents of Îles-de-la-Madeleine should contact the Ministère des Transports du Québec's Îles-de-la-Madeleine Service Centre in Cap-aux-Meules, at 418 986-2691;

- Residents of Baie-James should contact Le Conseil régional des élus de la Baie-James, at 1 800 516-4111, extension 232;

- Residents of Nunavik should contact the Kativik Regional Government, at 819 964-2961.

rma