Transport Committee on Dec. 14th, 2010

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

I must say, just to concur with my colleague, when I came to this meeting I had a relatively open mind; I just wanted to hear both sides of the case. The way in which you've answered your questions really tilts me to the other side, because I think you've been so evasive.

I just have one question of fact. It's my understanding that Air Canada originally purchased this El Salvador operation--I think it's called Aeroman--in the past, and then subsequently sold it to Aveos. Is that correct, in your view?

[Louise-Hélène Sénécal]

I'm not aware of that.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Do any of the three of you know about that?

[Louise-Hélène Sénécal]

I'm not aware of that. It may have been ACE Aviation that purchased it, but not Air Canada, that's for sure.

[John McCallum, Liberal, Markham—Unionville, ON]

Well, I just had that one question of fact, Mr. Chair.

[Joseph Galimberti]

I would invite the committee to take a look at the type of work that gets done in El Salvador. One can fairly rapidly independently make a determination on the realistic possibility that we would ever be able to move Air Canada work there. It services narrow-body aircraft. They don't do the same type of work that is done here by Canadian employees in Canada. I would invite the committee to sincerely study that, take a look.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I know Ms. Brown is up, but I think she's giving her time to Mr. Jean.

[Lois Brown, Conservative, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Absolutely.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'd really like you to reconsider the Fort McMurray option for the base. I think it would be a good partnership. You need an Alberta base, I think.

Is it true that Air Canada is one of the safest airlines in the world?

[Louise-Hélène Sénécal]

We are very proud of our safety record, yes.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

You're very good at answering questions without answering them. I appreciate that.

[Louise-Hélène Sénécal]

Okay. We are one of the safest.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Thank you.

In fact I think I was getting at the point that Joseph made earlier in that the quality of work and the type of work done in Central America are much different from what is required for Air Canada planes. Is that fair to say?

[Louise-Hélène Sénécal]

They're for smaller aircraft.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Again, you're very good at answering questions.

[Louise-Hélène Sénécal]

It's different. I'm sorry, I should have said yes, and they're for smaller aircraft.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Thank you.

Are you a lawyer?

[Louise-Hélène Sénécal]

I am.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Okay. I was hoping you weren't, because I'm a lawyer, and I just didn't want to, you know....

Now, regarding enforcement of this particular act--since you're a lawyer, and you can give me a legal opinion, maybe two, possibly three about the same issue--if somebody feels that you're not living up to your obligations as Air Canada, they have the ability to go to court, as long as they have privity of contract with you as a shareholder, or however they would establish that.

[Louise-Hélène Sénécal]

They would be as a shareholder.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

They would have privity of contract and say you were not living up to your articles of incorporation or your articles of continuance, and they could seek an order from the court, an order of mandamus, or something similar to that, to force you to comply with the act.

The mike cannot hear you nod your head.

[Louise-Hélène Sénécal]

I'm sorry. With our statutes of continuation, our shareholders could take us to court.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

So they could take you to court. They could ask the judge to do a writ of certiorari or a mandamus, or whatever it is, and force you to comply with articles of continuance.

[Louise-Hélène Sénécal]

They could.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

And that's the only way they can do that.