We Need a Plan to Support Canadians Working in the Aviation Sector | Dec 9, 2020

Conservatives call for a plan to support Canadians working in the aviation sector
 
December 9, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
OTTAWA, ON – Stephanie Kusie, Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, issued the following statement calling on the Trudeau Liberals to deliver a plan to support Canadians who work and rely on the aviation sector:
 
“Today, Conservatives are calling on the Trudeau government to take action and deliver support for Canadians who work and rely on the aviation sector. Aviation workers and those who rely on the sector are going into the Christmas travel season with no certainty and no plan from the Liberal government about the future of their jobs.
 
“Thousands of jobs rely on a plan to support the aviation industry though the depths of the global pandemic, and to safely restart air travel in a way that ensures health and safety of Canadians. Canadians need a plan that inspires the confidence necessary to ensure passengers are comfortable to return to the skies. Unfortunately, the Trudeau Liberals have failed to deliver support for the thousands of Canadians who rely on the aviation sector, and they are failing to ensure rapid testing is available to allow for the safe restart of air travel.
 
“The Fall Economic Statement was the latest wasted opportunity for the Liberal government to provide airlines workers, air traffic controller, travel agents, pilots, airport service workers, flight attendants and other who rely on the aviation sector with certainty of support or a plan to return to normal. It has been eleven weeks since we heard in the Speech from the Throne that the government would address the hard-hit sector and restore our regional routes, but where is the plan?
 
“Just yesterday, thousands of Canadians living in Atlantic Canada learned that, because of the Liberal government’s failure to support the aviation sector, flights to airports in Sydney, Saint John, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Deer Lake and Halifax have been reduced or cut entirely. These cuts not only affect the workers who service these airports and airlines but hurt Canadians who rely on air travel to stay connected in a country as vast as Canada.
 
“For months the Liberal Transport Minister has been promising Canadians that support is coming, but Canadians continue to see nothing. It is time for the government to end the empty promises and start delivering on their many promises to airline workers.
 
Canadians who rely on the aviation sector need a plan that:
 
*Restores Canada’s regional routes;
*Ensures passengers receive refunds for cancelled flights;
*Doesn’t claw back travel agents’ commissions;
*Ensures NAV Canada maintains adequate service levels for air traffic controls;
*Restarts air travel with robust rapid testing at airports, which would allow for the gradual phase out of the current 14-day quarantine period, based on evidence and results from ongoing pilot projects; and
*Outlines when every Canadian will have access to a vaccine.
 
“As Canadians go into the holiday season, Conservatives are urging the government to act quickly and provide a plan for the too many Canadians who rely on the aviation sector who still have no certainty about how, or even if they will have jobs to return to. Conservatives will continue to advocate for the certainty, clarity, and competence that airline workers and those who rely on the aviation sector deserve from their government.”

Chris Lewis MP - Essex

Constituency Office

Ottawa Office