Evidence of meeting #98 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was air.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Michael Rousseau  President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Canada
Kerianne Wilson  Director, Customer Accessibility, Air Canada

5:45 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

What do you think about that? What do you think about the fact that flight attendants work 34.86 hours unpaid per month; that they're not paid for boarding; that they are not paid for their pre-flight prep and safety checks; that 99.5% of flight attendants aren't paid when they're checking in through security; that 98.6% of flight attendants aren't paid while passengers deplane after a flight; that 75% of flight attendants are only paid a partial wage for mandatory regulatory training, even though airlines and the federal government require those training days per year; and that 98.4% of flight attendants are not paid when the plane is being held at the gate after landing?

As someone who makes $12.6 million a year, Mr. Rousseau, what do you think about that?

5:50 p.m.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Air Canada

Michael Rousseau

I don't think it's appropriate for me to comment on that.

We have a contract with our flight attendants, as most airlines do. That was negotiated in good faith, and when it comes up for renewal, we'll discuss different aspects.

There are many different ways to look at this and different balances that you may not be considering, which I really don't want to get into at this point in time.

5:50 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Rousseau, I'll leave you with this comment as a woman who is a member of Parliament in Canada: Women have been undervalued, underpaid, and underappreciated since they started working in the economy.

We know that the role of a flight attendant was initially gendered work. I know that has changed over time, but there is a real issue with taking advantage of work that was gendered. It's happening in other areas of the economy, I'll admit, such as nursing—we know that right now—but I wanted to put it in your ear that this has been an issue from inception.

5:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Vice-Chair Conservative Tracy Gray

Thank you, Ms. Zarrillo.

Thank you to all of the witnesses for being here today.

We're at the end of our meeting. Our next one will be on Thursday, February 8.

Is it the will of the committee to adjourn the meeting?

5:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:50 p.m.

The Chair

This meeting is adjourned.