Evidence of meeting #11 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was jobs.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Regional Market and Government Affairs, Air Canada
To keep jobs, it needs to be able to make decisions to establish maintenance work here in Canada based on how competitive it is across the maintenance industry globally.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
Can you give us examples? Apart from being competitive, can you give us an example or two on how you would be keeping jobs here in Canada?
5:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Regional Market and Government Affairs, Air Canada
If we had certain elements of work that were required to be done, that requirement would be subject to a competitive bid from a list of maintenance suppliers on a global supplier list. If the Canadian organization comes in on a competitive basis, then the work could be done here.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Angelo Iacono Liberal Alfred-Pellan, QC
What is the net margin between work done in Canada and work being done outside of Canada?
5:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Regional Market and Government Affairs, Air Canada
I think one of your colleagues asked that same question.
It varies by airplane type. There are certain manufacturers who have certain levels of expertise in certain airplane types. For instance, Premier Aviation is growing in expertise in the Embraer aircraft. There are certain providers, Lufthansa Technik and GE, who have highly specialized capacities in Boeing, Airbus, Embraer, whatever.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Could you confirm the regions you were saying you outsource to? I think you said the United States and Israel.
5:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Regional Market and Government Affairs, Air Canada
There is Canada, the U.S., Hong Kong, and Israel.
5:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Regional Market and Government Affairs, Air Canada
These are the primary ones, yes.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Could you describe what Air Canada has to do to keep workers here skilled or to give continuous upgrades to their skill sets? What training does Air Canada provide to its maintenance workers?
5:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Regional Market and Government Affairs, Air Canada
We have ongoing training. Our mechanics come to us following post-secondary training at one of the accredited technical colleges that exist across the country. They secure a licence through Transport Canada. Then we have ongoing manufacturer and Air Canada training through which they get endorsements on various airplanes throughout their career.
5:05 p.m.
Liberal
Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
This is, I'm assuming, part of some global standard.
5:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Regional Market and Government Affairs, Air Canada
Yes, and a standard that is set and tightly regulated by Transport Canada.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Dianne Lynn Watts Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC
Thank you, and I'll be sharing my time.
Was it the amendments to Bill C-10 that allowed you to purchase the C Series?
5:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Regional Market and Government Affairs, Air Canada
Did it allow us to purchase?
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Dianne Lynn Watts Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC
Yes. You're saying you want to be more competitive, so did this allow you to make that purchase?
5:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Regional Market and Government Affairs, Air Canada
Well, it certainly allowed us to settle once and for all the litigation that was going on with the Province of Quebec and the Province of Manitoba.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Dianne Lynn Watts Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC
Right, so this legislation, in essence, will have freed you up to purchase the C Series.
5:05 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Regional Market and Government Affairs, Air Canada
I think one of your colleagues asked before whether one was a condition of the other. We're hoping that this legislation will pass. If it doesn't, we'll make a decision. One was not a condition of the other, if that was your question.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
Dianne Lynn Watts Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC
No, that wasn't my question. If this passes, then you have the ability to keep the purchase of the C Series planes in place. If it doesn't pass, then you'll make a decision to drop it.
5:10 p.m.
Senior Vice-President, Regional Market and Government Affairs, Air Canada
Well, we'll make a decision.
