Transport committee  There are Canadian companies that are interested in bidding on some of that work. They haven't had an opportunity to bid on that work, but there are companies such as Premier that are interested in performing some of that work. I'd also like to speak on one other piece in relation to your question about growth in the industry.

Transport committee  I would like to add to that, if I may. To your question about this bill, you'll see that any of the work they're talking about is not Air Canada work, whether it's in Quebec or whether it's in Montreal. On the work that Air Canada testified to here earlier today, none of it is Air Canada work.

Transport committee  I don't understand why they are not doing business with those companies. I know that they do a very small portion, emergency slides only, with A J Walter. Over at Lockheed Martin, they do not do any work that I am aware of with Air Canada engines, but they could. They have the capabilities to perform that work.

Transport committee  I can't speak to that.

Transport committee  None of the deals that Air Canada speaks about with regard to the centres of excellence are signed. When they speak about a centre of excellence in Winnipeg, I have concerns, because the type of work in Winnipeg is not the same as what they were performing there prior to Aveos' ceasing operations.

Transport committee  The issue we have with this particular section, if you read it, is that the corporation “may” eliminate those activities in those provinces and change the type or the volume of any and all activities in each of those provinces, as well as the level of employment. The word “may” is one of the issues.

Transport committee  I would like to respond. There are two corporations that we currently represent. We represent workers at A J Walter, which was a subsidiary that was sold off from Aveos during the bankruptcy, and we also represent Lockheed Martin. We just came through negotiations with both of these corporations.

Transport committee  This bill allows Air Canada to focus on a race to the bottom and not on protecting jobs in the industry for future Canadians. This bill makes us wonder whether the government has given up on the aviation sector in Canada. We wonder if the government has given up on good jobs this sector can provide across the country.

Transport committee  We'll both be speaking. Good evening. My name is Fred Hospes. I'm the president and directing general chairperson of the transportation district 140 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. I am here today with Dave Chartrand. I am the Quebec coordinator.