Provincial government pleads for Air Canada not to close base

The Government of Manitoba has issued a plea asking Air Canada to reconsider its controversial decision to shut-down the carrier’s flight attendant base in Winnipeg, the provincial capital. But it appears highly unlikely that Air Canada will reverse its decision upon hearing the government’s arguments. Manitoban Premier Gary Doer has already pledged to do all that he can to stop Air Canada from closing its Winnipeg base, which will lead to hundreds of redundancies in the province. Yet the premier’s efforts have been largely in vain and at least 143 Air Canada flight attendants will find themselves out of work as of November 1^st, 2008.

The Government of Manitoba, however, has not given up just yet. Earlier this week Competitiveness Minister Andrew Swan had a meeting with one of Air Canada’s main executives. The minister later conceded that his message was heard, but that the flag carrier was unlikely to change its current position. Swan has since told journalists that he is “not especially hopeful” that Air Canada would reverse its position. One of the problems may have been the government’s unwillingness to offer the airline a tax break. This may have rendered Manitoba’s economic environment more appealing for the airline.

In addition to the 143 flight attendants who will soon find themselves out of work in Winnipeg, an additional 300 will lose their job in Halifax and 187 redundancies are expected in Vancouver as well.

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