Air Canada pushes for government intervention as clock ticks down on labour talks

Air Canada is urging the federal government to be prepared to step in as its labor negotiations with pilots approach a critical stage, with the possibility of a shutdown looming.

Airline spokesperson Christophe Hennebelle stated that while Air Canada remains committed to reaching a deal, the pilots' union has made "unreasonable wage demands" that the airline cannot accommodate.

Beginning Sunday, either side could issue a 72-hour notice of a strike or lockout. Should that happen, Air Canada would initiate its three-day wind-down plan, potentially leading to a full work stoppage as early as September 18.

Hennebelle emphasized that the government should be ready to act to prevent widespread disruptions.

The union has attributed the stalled negotiations to what it calls corporate greed, accusing Air Canada of expecting pilots to settle for below-market compensation despite the airline reporting record profits.

Federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon expressed optimism, saying there's no reason a deal can't be achieved and urged both parties to "knuckle down" and finalize an agreement.

Several business groups gathered in Ottawa on Thursday, advocating for action—potentially through binding arbitration—to prevent the economic fallout a shutdown could cause.

Arbitration "can help bring the parties to a successful resolution and avoid all the potential impacts we're here to talk about today," said Candace Laing, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, during a press conference.

Goldy Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada, warned in a media statement, "Canada cannot afford another major disruption to its transportation network. A labor disruption at Air Canada would ripple through our economy."

On the political front, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made it clear that his party would not support any government action forcing pilots back to work. "We're going to send a clear message again that we are opposed to Justin Trudeau and the Liberals, or any government, interfering with workers," Singh stated.

"If any bills are proposed for back-to-work legislation, we're going to oppose that."

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, speaking on Wednesday, called for Air Canada to negotiate in good faith with its pilots. "We stand with the pilots and their right to fight for a fair deal and good wages," he said, opposing any premature government intervention in the talks.