Evidence of meeting #12 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.
Conservative
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
A motion was put to go in camera and it was passed, so that's the end of the issue. It's been decided.
This may not be a very long discussion, but unfortunately we will have to ask our witnesses to exit the room and we will disconnect our teleconference for a few minutes while we deal with this issue.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
[Public proceedings resume]
Liberal
Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON
Madam Chair, I would like to point something out for Mr. McColeman's information.
Before we went in camera, there was a comment made by Mr. McColeman, who stressed that the government was saying no. I just want to clarify for Mr. McColeman's information, first, that points of order do take precedence. Second, as I stated earlier, when there is a motion to go in camera, there is no debate. It wasn't a matter of the government taking precedence over any decision; it was just a matter of those decisions being encased in procedure. I just want to make that very clear.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Sharper and faster, but I wasn't trying to be as lenient as I can with our colleagues.
Mr. McColeman.
Conservative
Phil McColeman Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON
I'm well aware what a deleterious motion is, and it was a deleterious motion. However, the comment should come from the chair, not from the government side and not from the opposition side. The chair had full rein over the meeting, and it was inappropriate for you to say that, sir, under the circumstances.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much.
We are now are on to six minutes.
Mr. Sikand and Mr. Hardie are splitting their time.
Liberal
Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Welcome back, gentlemen.
I have just a simple question. If you could, please be brief, because as the Chair mentioned, I am sharing my time.
If Bill C-10 does not pass, what implications will this have on you?
We could start with Mr. Quick.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
The point we really want to make around the bill is that coming out of the bill is an opportunity for the C Series as well as for centres of excellence.
For us, centres of excellence equate to jobs and to building Canadian capacity and innovation capability. I'm assuming that if that doesn't happen, if we don't get the centres of excellence, we may lose an opportunity to build that new capacity and capability.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Premier Aviation Overhaul Center
I agree. It's going to prohibit us from creating new jobs with the centres of excellence. Also, we would be putting at risk the jobs that we presently have in place with all of our facilities. Therefore, I believe that Bill C-10 is very important to Premier Aviation and to all of our facilities throughout the country.
Liberal
Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
To the Quebec Employers Council, you did mention a bit about this in your remarks, but would you like to elaborate?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Quebec Employers Council
What we have mentioned is that Air Canada has to compete internationally with companies that do not have the same strings attached. This situation will just create an environment where Canada will not be able to compete on the same level as its competitors. This has a huge impact on jobs and an indirect or direct impact on other companies.
You have heard from a maintenance company, but it is the same thing for the entire aerospace sector, because all parts of the aerospace sector are linked with one another. If we create a situation in which the unique transporter, Air Canada in this situation, is jeopardized by a situation that is unpredictable, we jeopardize the whole aerospace cluster, particularly in Quebec, but also in Canada overall.
Liberal
Gagan Sikand Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Thank you very much.
I will now hand it over to Mr. Hardie.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Thank you for being here, gentlemen.
When we had representatives from the bargaining units and from Air Canada here, we tried to get a sense as to the current atmosphere or environment in Canada. We heard that for some of the Air Canada work, there were in fact no bids by Canadian companies. Can anybody explain?
Perhaps Mr. Di Bartolo could start.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Premier Aviation Overhaul Center
I'm not certain exactly who bid on that. We know that Premier Aviation did. We bid on most of the fleet. I can't indicate exactly what types right now, but we were one of the bidders for sure.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Okay.
We also heard that 2,600 people lost their jobs when Aveos went down. Do you have any estimate as to how many of those have been picked up by your company or the companies affiliated with your council?
Perhaps we can start with Mr. Dorval on that.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Quebec Employers Council
I don't have precise information about it. We know that hundreds of jobs have been created in other companies and maintenance companies in Quebec. It's not at the same level as with Aveos, of course.
At the same time, we have to look at what will happen in the future if our company, Air Canada, is not able to compete on the same level playing field as the others.
More importantly, I mentioned an agreement with the Province of Quebec and Bombardier, but the fact of the matter is that it is an agreement in principle. Of course, there's nothing finalized until we arrive at the final point on that, but there is an agreement in principle, and this agreement will create other opportunities in Quebec and the rest of Canada for a centre of excellence.
Those types of things, as I said, will create new opportunities, new jobs. We cannot look back. We have to look forward. That's the reason we are here.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Thank you, sir.
I'd like one more question, or am I out of time?
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Does the Canadian industry have the capacity to do the MRO for everything that's currently in Air Canada's fleet? Can we do that? Do you have the capability and the capacity to do all of Air Canada's work, should you win it?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Quebec Employers Council
Your question is to...?
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
I'm sorry; it's to Mr. Quick, perhaps, and Mr. Di Bartolo.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
Certainly we have world-class capability here in Canada. I don't know the extent of that work, but we can either endeavour to find out for you or have one of the panellists find out for you. I'm very confident in our industry and its ability. We compete globally for this work. We're recognized as a global leader in this sector, so I don't have any problem saying that from the capacity and capability standpoint, we're more than well suited for it.