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.
Director, Government Relations, Air Canada
I would hesitate to do that. We could certainly generate one in fairly short order.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I would like that, if you could, and provide it to the clerk.
Does Air Canada pay taxes in Canada?
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Do you know how much you paid last year in taxes?
Director, Government Relations, Air Canada
In corporate taxes, not offhand, no, but we can certainly get that for you.
Director, Government Relations, Air Canada
Yes, substantially. We also collect a few tax dollars on behalf of the government as well, through GST and HST.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Do you have an accurate estimate of how much you pay in taxes?
Director, Government Relations, Air Canada
We can come up with one.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Okay. You can provide that to the clerk as well.
Any chance at all of moving a base to Alberta somewhere? Just curious. No chance? What's so funny? It's available in a couple of other provinces.
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
We do have one in....
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Maybe you could make a note of that too and provide us with some information. I'd really like it if it was moved to Alberta, at least part of it.
Those are all my questions, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Thank you.
Two minutes are left if anybody wants to take that time.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I'm more than happy to give it to Mr. Guimond, unless Ms. Brown wants it.
December 14th, 2010 / 11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to the committee, witnesses.
I'm very disappointed. Ms. Sénécal, I deal with the employees of Air Canada every day, and I hold them in the highest regard. Now, today, when I am listening to you, I'm very disappointed, because you have come to the committee to speak on the Air Canada Public Participation Act, but I'm hearing that either you are not in a position to answer those questions, or you are not capable of answering those questions, or you do not want to disclose those answers. I, personally, feel that we are disrespected here, and I ask that you and your colleagues come up with those answers. That is why you are here at this committee.
I'm going to ask these questions again, and I hope you are able to answer them.
In your opinion, what does the obligation to “maintain operational and overhaul centres” in your articles of continuance mean for Air Canada?
Director, Government Relations, Air Canada
The legislation is very clear in what our obligations are. As far as interpreting our obligations, Transport Canada was in front of this committee. It is Transport Canada that enforces. Air Canada does not enforce the statutes of the Government of Canada upon itself. So as far as what it means to us, what it means to us is irrelevant. We are compliant. We intend to, on a going-forward basis, be compliant. Transport Canada is the one that determines what that compliance represents.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
I see all these employees coming to us, and now you are saying the legal obligations and all that stuff.... Do you think the only way to go forward is with lawsuits, then?
Liberal
Assistant General Counsel, Law Branch, Air Canada
Through what?
