Madam Chairman, I thank the member for Edmonton Centre--East. My 10 minute speech will be truncated to two and a half minutes so that I can share the time with the member for Surrey Central.
I have the highlights of my 10 minute speech in bullet form on how to save Air Canada. It is a vexing problem but it can be done. We should in part look at Continental and Southwest, two carriers that have been making money in the period of a downturn.
On the bailout issue, we are not going to give $3 billion, but a smaller number should be given to a company that prior to September 11 was worth $710 million.
On the issue of merging, date of hire should be the method used. It is the fairest method. Imagine having a pilot in the right seat with 15 years seniority over the pilot on the left. Those cannot be merged together if it is not date of hire.
The best way to deal with the issue of labour woes, which airlines across the world are suffering from, is with final offer arbitration. It will force both sides to come to the centre. It is reasonable and effective. Striking should be forbidden in groups working in the airline industry. Airlines are absolutely essential and crucial for an economy to function.
On the organizational side, Air Canada is drowning in paperwork as we speak. It has at least doubled the amount of paperwork that individuals have to labour under. That should be removed.
On the ticketing side, it should go back to using SABRE. It works. For baggage a computerized tracking system is needed. The current baggage handling system does not work.
The parts inventory must be computerized. Right now it is not. Mechanics do not know where the parts are. This leads to increased inefficiencies.
Cut down the routes that do not work. Decrease the number of flights on those routes that do not produce revenue. Maximize the number of people travelling on those routes. This will increase profitability.
On the manpower issue, scoping by pilots should not be allowed. Pilots should be allowed to work on the planes they are familiar with.
On the issue of equality, it is equal pay for equal work. There simply cannot be individuals who do the same job in the same or different areas who are being paid different amounts. Listen to all the groups. Bring in managers from Southwest and Continental. Both of those airline companies have done a superb job in rejuvenating those two airlines which were on the brink of bankruptcy.
On aircraft maintenance, contracting out to privatized handlers would probably not work and there could be an element of danger. Look at the airlines that crashed in the U.S.
Allow the regional carriers to manage their own affairs. They are doing a good job. They fly at capacity. Allow that aspect to be decentralized to the regions and they will function very well.
We cannot give money to Air Canada and allow it to function as a low cost carrier to drive WestJet into the ground. It is not fair and reasonable.
Listen to the people who work for the company. The employees have excellent suggestions. Provide a venue for them to offer solutions. Reward them for providing cost-cutting solutions. It will increase morale and there will be a functional airline at the end of the day.