Evidence of meeting #44 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was aveos.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
On Aeroman, I don't know.
Liberal
Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL
And you can't describe to the committee the relationship between ACE and Air Canada, in terms of whether or not there was a bid to buy out Aeroman?
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
I can tell you that Air Canada is not involved in Aeroman. Air Canada has no link to Aeroman. We never owned them. We never purchased them. So—
Senior Director, Engines and Airframe Maintenance, Air Canada
We don't send any work there, either.
Director, Government Relations, Air Canada
We never sent work there; we can't send work there.
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Thank you.
I thought Monsieur Guimond made good points about the letter versus the spirit of the law, and doing things directly or indirectly. I think a number of people, including Mr. Jean, have commented that the act was badly drafted.
So I'm wondering what you would think of some potential amendment of the act to make more explicit what was previously implicit in it, an amendment to the effect that not just Air Canada but also derivatives of Air Canada, like Aveos, would be required to have their facilities in these three cities. That would put peace in people's minds so there's no uncertainty as to whether these jobs might be transferred out of the country.
What would you think of amending the act to tighten it up so that it reflected the intentions of people like Mr. Mazankowski at the time it was drafted?
Director, Government Relations, Air Canada
The law was drafted at the will of Parliament. It's Parliament's will.
Liberal
Director, Government Relations, Air Canada
We would obviously have a curiosity about any kind of alteration to a law that only and explicitly relates to Air Canada. But in terms of what Parliament decides to do...? Well, we would be curious, but I'm not going to volunteer to give you direction as to what Parliament intends to do on a go-forward basis.
December 14th, 2010 / 12:30 p.m.
Liberal
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Would you support a revision of the law that ensured that Aveos was also in compliance with what Air Canada has to do?
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
We don't believe the law says that Aveos has to be in compliance. We don't believe that's what the law says or intends to do.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
No, no, my question is whether or not you would you like to see that.
Now you are saying all of those things about not knowing whether Aveos will be in compliance. Air Canada is in compliance with the law, but we do not know whether Aveos will be in compliance with the legislation that we have in place.
So would you like to see those changes made to hold Aveos accountable to that law? That's my question to you.
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
Well, we certainly do not believe there should be a government law imposing restrictions on a commercial enterprise. That concept is unusual.
Conservative
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
That would impose obligations on a single enterprise. The Government of Canada should look at general laws that apply to everybody and aren't discriminative to a single entity.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I think it's fair to state that they're here representing Air Canada and not other corporations.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
At the will of the committee we can ask that they appear, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will. They're not obligated to. Air Canada is here today to discuss ACPPA and how it works for them.
We'll go to one final round of three minutes.
Monsieur Guimond.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
I think that I will be summoned to appear as a witness in order to deal with Mr. Byrne's question.
Are you aware, Ms. Sénécal, that Aeroman currently has six maintenance units and has plans to build an additional 16 in the next few months?
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
I have here a copy of Air Canada's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the first quarter of 2010. On page 27, the following is said with regard to the Aveos restructuring plan:
The terms of the Pension and Benefits Agreement were also modified to defer the determination of pension assets and related solvency deficiencies [...] to April 2011.
What does that mean?
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
What does that mean?
