Evidence of meeting #31 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was aveos.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Chuck Atkinson  President and Directing General Chairman, District Lodge 140, Mississauga, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada
Jean Poirier  General Chairman, District Lodge 140, Montréal, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada
Gilles Brosseau  Québec Coordinator, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada
Louis Erlichman  Canadian Research Director, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada
Tony Didoshak  General Chairman, District Lodge 140, Winnipeg, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada
Christopher Hiscock  President, Local Lodge 764, Richmond, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

9 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

The government is saying that it does not want to do anything because Air Canada is complying with the act. The government is saying that it does not want to make a bailout plan. I saw that, yesterday, a job fair was held, which was organized by the employee union, so that representatives from Emploi-Québec and others could find a way to transfer these jobs, which is a good thing.

My first question is very clear: if Aveos is not paying you, is it because its representatives have told you that they will pay you only if you do not take them to court?

9 a.m.

General Chairman, District Lodge 140, Montréal, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

Jean Poirier

I have not been told that, but you may have a point.

9 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Could that be the case?

9 a.m.

General Chairman, District Lodge 140, Montréal, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

Jean Poirier

It could be a result of the fact that we are putting pressure on the governments and we are trying to get our employees back to work. Managers are perhaps exerting pressure in another way, by not paying employees or by not giving them their termination forms. It would be really— I will not say the word here.

9 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

We know what you were thinking.

9 a.m.

General Chairman, District Lodge 140, Montréal, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

Jean Poirier

It is not said.

9 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Mr. Brosseau, has this type of thing happened?

9 a.m.

Québec Coordinator, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

Gilles Brosseau

What is your question, Mr. Coderre?

9 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Is it possible that Aveos representatives told you that they would pay you if you signed an agreement that you would not take the company to court?

9 a.m.

Québec Coordinator, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

Gilles Brosseau

Are you asking me if they told us that?

9 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Yes.

9 a.m.

Québec Coordinator, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

Gilles Brosseau

No, they did not.

9 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

They did not try that?

9 a.m.

Québec Coordinator, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

9 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Good. I was simply thinking to myself that they could ask you to do anything because they are not following the rules and they have you over a barrel.

Mr. Atkinson, listen, I think it's totally disgusting what's going on right now, and I feel we have to do something about it. We have to chew gum and walk at the same time. The judicial issue is just as important, but it won't immediately bring you some bread and butter on the table. You have to take a look and take care of the people first so they can get a job or at least keep one.

I don't understand the issue of should the provincial government or should the union sue Air Canada—or Aveos, in this case—to find a way to make sure that Air Canada complies with the law. In a short time, you said you don't want to talk about it but you're ready to do so.

Is it my understanding that the union would be ready to sue Air Canada to make sure they comply with the law?

9 a.m.

President and Directing General Chairman, District Lodge 140, Mississauga, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

Chuck Atkinson

That's something that's been discussed with our legal people. That's about as far as I can go right now.

9 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

If the international association doesn't want to do it because of some other interests or some strategic reason, would it be possible that the regional component of your union would be able then to sue Air Canada? If, for example, Winnipeg or Quebec wants to do it by themself, would it be possible to do so?

9 a.m.

President and Directing General Chairman, District Lodge 140, Mississauga, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

Chuck Atkinson

I guess it would be possible, but we don't have a problem with our international association. International vice-president Dave Richie has made it very clear that we will do whatever is necessary.

9 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

Mr. Poirier, we know you often use colourful language. Clearly, we are looking to the future. The Government of Canada is saying that it does not want to do anything. It is sitting on its hands and it does not want to come up with a bailout plan. It is not me who is saying it, it is the minister himself. The minister has shirked his responsibilities and the government has also failed you.

That being said, how do you think that the Government of Quebec and the Government of Manitoba could help you at the political level. I spoke to the Premier of Manitoba and he wants to do anything he can to help. Clearly, the Premier of Ontario feels the same way.

Radio-Canada has mentioned a revitalization committee. Has there been only informal discussions? For example, could the QFL Solidarity Fund be a partner in the event that another buyer was found? You are not there to pay workers in Aveos' place but I imagine that, if a company was prepared to invest, the Solidarity Fund could be a partner. Is this one of the potential strategies?

I would like to hear Mr. Poirier's and Mr. Brosseau's comments on this.

9:05 a.m.

Québec Coordinator, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

Gilles Brosseau

The Solidarity Fund works with all sorts of companies in the aerospace industry. In this regard, I contacted the fund's representatives—I am also the vice-president of the QFL—to ask them whether some companies on the list may have expressed an interest in the past or may be interested now, but no one has stepped forward as of yet.

The Solidarity Fund is a strong social and economic partner in Quebec. Its job is not to manage or create a company. In other words, it does not repair planes. However, a company could submit to us a serious business plan. I am talking here about a company that deals with operations and not one that is just an investment company, such as KKR. I am not saying that that is not an option, but we would prefer a company that deals with operations.

What concerns me about your question is that it seems as though you are putting the ball in someone else's court. We came here to meet with the federal government, but you are putting the ball in the court of Quebec, the provinces and the Solidarity Fund. That is going a bit far.

There is no revitalization committee as such, but we have had several discussions with the Quebec department of economic development, innovation and export trade, which is also planning a tour of Quebec's trade missions in various countries and in Canada. If a company was prepared to buy Aveos, the Government of Quebec does seem to be open to providing help. However, this falls under federal jurisdiction.

9:05 a.m.

Liberal

Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC

We will come back to this since my time is up.

Thank you very much for your response.

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Monsieur Poilievre.

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON

Can you please indicate which section of the Air Canada Public Participation Act refers to Aveos?

9:05 a.m.

President and Directing General Chairman, District Lodge 140, Mississauga, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in Canada

Chuck Atkinson

It obviously does not.

9:05 a.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON

Which section of the Air Canada Public Participation Act refers to your union?