Competition Bureau Report 'Ignores Reality': CUPE

Following the release of “Cleared for take-off: Elevating airline competition” by the federal Competition Bureau, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) urged MPs to reject the recommendations in the report. 

The union said the report’s conclusions (specifically increased foreign ownership of Canadian airlines and the elimination of anti-cabotage rules to allow foreign carriers to operate domestic flights within Canada) are ill-advised, saying it poses “serious risks to Canadian jobs, public safety, and national sovereignty.”

Related: Is More Competition the Answer for Canadian Air Travel?

“This is not about giving Canadians more affordable air travel – it’s about handing over control of our skies to Wall Street and foreign corporations,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “Canadians want safe, reliable, and affordable service, not a race to the bottom.”

CUPE, which represents 18,500 flight attendants, says these proposals would lead to “job losses, lower safety standards and greater control of Canada’s airline industry by foreign interests.”

"Workers in this industry know that the Competition Bureau’s recommendations ignore reality in Canada, and they ignore the importance of a Canadian-owned and operated air network, particularly in times of crisis and emergencies, whether it's evacuating people during wildfires or delivering essential goods,” said CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick. “We can’t afford to hand over that control.”

Related: ‘Cabotage is Not the Answer’: Airports Respond to Competition Report

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