Submitted
Winnipeg, MB –James Bezan, Member of Parliament for Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman and Shadow Minister for National Defence, Marty Morantz, Member of Parliament for Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley, and Stephanie Kusie, Shadow Minister for Transport, issued the following statement after 14% of Nav Canada employees were laid off this week, and flight centres in Winnipeg and Halifax were closed altogether:
“This week 750 Canadians had to go home to their families worried about how they would put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. These workers face an uncertain future as the jobs they are trained to do and have years of experience in are no longer available.
“These layoffs are in addition to the 25% reduction the Winnipeg Airport Authority has needed to make, as well as the many pilots, fight attendants and mechanics who have been laid off, with no other opportunities available in their fields.
“Yesterday’s Speech from the Throne had no acknowledgement of the challenges COVID-19 has created within the aviation industry and, worse yet, outlined no plan to help workers safely return to the skies.
“When Canada had a shortage of PPE at the start of this pandemic, it was aviation workers who stepped up and worked to bring shipments of PPE to frontline workers. When Canadians were stranded abroad, it was aviation workers who helped bring them back to Canada to be reunited with their families. Aviation workers have stepped up when Canadians needed them. The Trudeau government must step up and deliver a plan to help these workers get back on their feet.”
