The Honourable Steven MacKinnon
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Sent via electronic mail
Re: Protecting Canada’s Economy from Labour Disruption
Dear Ministers,
Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade across Atlantic Canada are expressing concern regarding the potential strike by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) which represents more than 5,200 pilots at Air Canada.
Air Canada operates nearly 670 flights daily, carrying as many as 120,000 passengers travelling the world. Halting this service could not only disrupt travel plans but also significantly impact the economy, particularly in sectors reliant on-air travel for business, tourism, and cargo transport.
The pilots represented by the ALPA are valued in our region and are crucial to driving economic activity through connecting Canadians to the rest of the world. While we respect their right to collectively bargain for their members, it cannot come at the expense of the broader economic health of Canada.
We encourage both sides to negotiate to ensure that an agreement can be reached to avoid negative labour action; it is imperative that Government is prepared to promptly intervene to prevent a disruption that will impact our region and the country. With a potential strike coming on September 18th, delaying intervention could have significant consequences for supply chains, businesses, and the lives of countless Canadians.
We strongly urge Government to be prepared to take the necessary steps to safeguard the economy and ensure the continuity of air services at Air Canada.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce
Antigonish Chamber of Commerce
Arnold’s Cove Chamber of Commerce
Atlantic Chamber of Commerce
Baie Verte Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Bonavista Trinity Regional Chamber of Commerce
Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce
Cap-Acadie Chamber of Commerce
Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton | La Chambre de Commerce pour le Grand Moncton
Chambre de commerce du Grand Shediac/Greater Shediac Chamber of Commerce
Clarenville Area Chamber of Commerce
Conception Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
Digby & Area Board of Trade
East Hants & Districts Chamber of Commerce
Eastern Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
Eastern PEI Chamber of Commerce
Fredericton Chamber of Commerce
Great Northern Chamber of Commerce
Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
Killick Coast Chamber of Commerce
Labrador West Chamber
Lewisporte & Area Chamber of Commerce
Placentia Chamber of Commerce
Lunenburg Board of Trade
Mount Pearl-Paradise Chamber of Commerce
Pictou County Chamber of Commerce
Saint John Regional Chamber of Commerce
South Shore Chamber at Commerce
Strait Area Chamber of Commerce
Summerside Chamber of Commerce
Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce
Valley Chamber of Commerce
CC:
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland
The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez
The Honourable Sean Fraser
The Honourable Gudie Hutchings
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
