Trudeau Stands Firm on Neutrality in Air Canada Labour Dispute

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Canadian government will not intervene in the ongoing dispute between Air Canada and its pilots. Instead, he emphasized the importance of collective bargaining and urged both sides to resolve their differences to avoid harming millions of Canadians. The potential strike threatens to impact 110,000 daily passengers.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Friday that the Canadian government will not step in to resolve the ongoing dispute between Air Canada and its pilots. Instead, Trudeau is exerting pressure on both parties to find a resolution and prevent a strike.

A potential stoppage could begin as early as September 18, affecting nearly 110,000 passengers daily and disrupting cargo services. Air Canada and its low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, operate close to 670 flights daily. Despite calls from airline and business groups for the government to mandate binding arbitration, Trudeau dismissed the idea.

"I'm not going to put my thumb on the scale on either side. It is up to Air Canada and the pilots' union to do the work to figure out how to make sure that they are not hurting millions of Canadians," Trudeau stated to reporters in Quebec. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon met with both parties on Thursday, revealing that significant differences over wages remain.

(With inputs from agencies.)