REALITY CHECK: Freeland idles while Air Canada Execs live it up on taxpayers’ dime

A recent story of performance bonuses for Air Canada executives is yet another reminder of how flawed the Liberal government’s Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) is.

Liberals promised that CEWS would only be used to protect jobs:

“The wage subsidy must be used to pay the workers. This is very clear, and we expect companies to comply with this policy” (Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Hansard, December 18th, 2020)

Unfortunately, Liberals set up CEWS with loopholes so big you can fly an Air Canada 747 through them. And that’s exactly what unscrupulous executives did, while the Minister twiddled her thumbs:

-Despite hundreds of millions of dollars through CEWS and public financial bailout of 5.9 billions dollars, Air Canada cut thousands of jobs while paying millions dollars in executive bonuses.

-Instead of being accountable, the Minster refuses to act to collect those ill gotten gains.

Justin Trudeau and Chrystia Freeland are giving rich CEO’s a free ride at the expense of workers and their families.

Canadians deserve better.