Transport committee  Non, c'est—

Transport committee  I could say yes, not because you now have before you the national district vice-president who represents all Air Canada employees throughout Canada. The local lodge and the national level are represented.

Transport committee  You are almost right, but I could read you the memorandum of understanding...

Transport committee  Yes, there are going to be layoff notices. We anticipate 272 layoffs next year. As far as whether that is because of the transition, I couldn't tell you.

Transport committee  The CIRB split the union certification under the Canada Labour Code, but did not take the Air Canada Act into account. Does that answer your question?

Transport committee  What we're saying isn't based on hearsay, it's based on the legislation. That is also the case for our study. Fred Lazar and Arthur Donner, two well-known economists who I hope are going to testify today, clearly said that they only way to sell the overhaul centres or have employees from other companies working there would be to bring an action against the government or tell it to amend the act.

Transport committee  Could I first talk to you a bit about Ms. Gravitis-Beck, to give you part of the context? Ms. Gravitis-Beck, who is a senior official at the Department of Transport, is supposed to tell the truth to the government and to know more than we do. We are often called "wrench monkeys".

Transport committee  When Ms. Sénécal and Mr. Bissonnette came here to testify, they put on an excellent show for you and told you not to worry, Aveos was going to continue to build planes, for a long time yet. Excuse me, but the contract between Aveos and Air Canada ends in June 2013. I have a copy right here.

Transport committee  Here are our recommendations: 1. That Air Canada comply with the Act by reverting to ownership of its overhaul centres. 2. That the Canada Industrial Relations Board’s decision concerning the transition of Air Canada employees to the subcontractor Aveos be set aside until the government takes a position on the Act. 3.

Transport committee  Good morning, Mr. Chair and members of the committee. Thank you for this opportunity to explain how Air Canada failed in its duty to comply with the Air Canada Public Participation Act by selling its overhaul centres to Aveos. Let us look back in time to explain why the Conservative federal government of the day included another measure in section 6(1)(d) which reads as follows: 6.(1) The articles of continuance of the Corporation shall contain (d) Provisions requiring the Corporation to maintain operational and overhaul centres in the City of Winnipeg, the Montreal Urban Community and the City of Mississauga; To protect and reinforce that clause, the government added section 7a) and b), which read as follows: 7.

Transport committee  Right, I will lower my voice. They also said: The things you are referring to, such as the operational centres, are not only enshrined in law but are required by statute. They cannot be changed unless the Act is amended. You cannot get any more of a guarantee than that. The Conservative MP for Winnipeg, George Minaker, asked for clarification: Is it my understanding that section 7 will prevent any future Boards of Directors of the new company from manipulating the requirements in sections 6(1)(a), (b), (c) and (d), in particular regarding the overhaul centres being located in Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal, and that this section restricts any fooling around at some future date?