CUPE Calls on MPs to Reject Dangerous Airline Deregulation Plan

OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CUPE is urging Members of Parliament to reject the Competition Bureau’s latest report on airline competition, warning it poses serious risks to Canadian jobs, public safety, and national sovereignty.

The report calls for increased foreign ownership of Canadian airlines and the elimination of anti-cabotage rules to allow foreign carriers to operate domestic flights within Canada. 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.

“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.”

Despite years of deregulation, the airline industry in Canada has seen the opposite of increased competition and more affordable fares. Instead, Canadians have seen increased airline consolidation, service cuts, and skyrocketing fares, especially in remote regions.

"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.”

CUPE is calling on the federal government to shelve the report and instead invest in building a strong, public, Canadian-owned air transport system that ensures safety, accessibility, and good union jobs across the country.

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