NDP reacts to announcement that Air Canada will cut more jobs and routes

The NDP’s Critic for Labour MP Scott Duvall (Hamilton Mountain) and the Critic for Transport MP Taylor Bachrach (Skeena-Bulkley Valley) made the following statement:

“Today, Air Canada announced that they will be cutting 1,500 Canadian jobs. This is a huge blow to Canadian workers, however, it comes as no surprise. The airline industry has been struggling through this pandemic; Air Canada laid off 1,700 workers only four weeks ago.” said Duvall. “Unlike many other countries that have put plans in place to support workers in the airline sector, this federal government is failing our workers resulting in huge jobs losses which will only continue without real action.”

“While Air Canada has benefitted from CEWS, the workers they have laid off will not see any of that money. Air Canada is taking advantage of a program created to keep people employed, not for big corporations to pocket the money for themselves,” added Duvall.

“Todays announcement comes only weeks after significant route cuts in Canada, leaving many communities isolated from vital services,” said Bachrach. “The Liberal government is failing regional communities by withholding support to the airline sector. Thousands of people have been left without an income and communities are being cut off. We would like to see the government provide targeted support that includes conditions to keep workers employed and regional routes restarted.”