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Protecting Air Service Act
An Act to provide for the continuation and resumption of air service operations
This bill was last introduced in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session, which ended in September 2013.
This bill was last introduced in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session, which ended in September 2013.
Lisa Raitt Conservative
This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.
This is from the published bill.
This enactment provides for the continuation and resumption of air service operations and imposes a final arbitration selection process to resolve matters remaining in dispute between the parties.
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Some hon. members
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Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Mr. Speaker, I welcome to the House of Commons my new colleagues on the other side to Parliament. When they realize the importance of this airline, they will take their hat off and recognize what is more important, the rights of Canadian citizens, not only the rights of the union. We all agree that collective bargaining is one of the strongest tools we have for labour peace. That is not in dispute.
What is in dispute is taking a responsible position. Under the Minister of Labour, this government has taken the responsible position to ensure that all Canadians benefit from this airline because it is a national asset. If it is a national asset, then let us keep it as a national asset. I will continue to support this airline—
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. If it is a national asset, why did the Brian Mulroney government sell it then?
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Mr. Speaker, that question was irrelevant because the chief pilot of the airline said that it is a national asset.
Why does the government propose to act today and why have been here all this time? While we all believe in the collective bargaining, at the end of the day, as the minister and all my colleagues said, it is for economic reasons. We were elected to ensure that we provided economic direction for our country from the recovery, with the economic stimulus plan and with the upcoming budget. Canadians have to ensure our country stays economically strong and that applies also to the airlines.
Why is only Air Canada and not the other airlines like WestJet, Porter all the other airlines out there? It is time for the airline industry to provide proper service to all Canadians so they can benefit and not be caught in the fighting taking place between management and the workers. That has to stop.
All of us commend the Minister of Labour and the Prime Minister for doing the right thing by ensuring that the interests of all Canadians and the economy is at the forefront. That is what we are doing here tonight and that is what we are going to continue to do.
For my hon. colleagues on the other side, including the party way at the other end that seems to be fast asleep, wake up and smell the thing. At one point in time those members were supposed to form the government. They are no longer the national governing party because we have taken over.
This government will provide, under the leadership of this Prime Minister, what is required for all Canadians, and that is what we are doing tonight.
The Acting Speaker Barry Devolin
The question is on the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Some hon. members
Agreed.
No.
Some hon. members
Yea.
Some hon. members
Nay.
The Acting Speaker Barry Devolin
In my opinion the yeas have it.
And five or more members having risen:
Call in the members.
And the bells having rung:
(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)
