Union leaders praise while passenger rights groups rebuke Air Canada deal

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The multi-billion-dollar bailout of Air Canada is causing quite the stir as reaction continues to surface on the major announcement.

It has the attention of one air passenger rights advocate who calls the move a bad deal.

“There is no enforcement mechanism to ensure that passengers are actually getting their refunds,” said Gabor Lukacs, the founder of Air Passenger Rights.

“It seems that refunds are funded by the public purse, not by the shareholders. The vast majority of this facility is an unsecured loan. It means that there’s no collateral for the loan. If Air Canada doesn’t pay back, there’s nothing that the government can do.”

Lukacs said the bailout leaves much to be desired and that it’s worded in a way where the government can’t really enforce the conditions of the deal, which includes capping executive salaries and refunding customer money for cancelled flights.

“They (Air Canada) have been engaging in behaviour that is not acceptable, that shouldn’t be tolerated in any business. Misappropriating consumer’s money by the company, they have been aiding and abating in that and that has to be clear that this is not an acceptable business practice in Canada. On that point, the government miserably failed.”

The reaction is also growing on social media as many decry the move saying the government is again putting big business ahead of other priorities.

“The Liberals are choosing a $6 billion handout for Air Canada over CERB, paid sick days, pharmacare, Indigenous nations’ drinking water.” said one Twitter user and activist.

let's be *absolutely clear* that the Liberals are choosing a $6 billion handout for Air Canada over CERB, paid sick days, pharmacare, Indigenous nations' drinking water, or heck even buying air canada to ensure it's accessible + decarbonized https://t.co/2TZQx5ffPi #cdnpoli

— Bronwen Tucker ???? (@bronwentucker) April 13, 2021

The $5.9 billion to Air Canada coulda been federal payments to people to stay home and prevent a third wave.

— Courage Coalition (@Courage_CA) April 13, 2021

Others are wondering if the timing of the aid package means a spring election is inevitable.

I'm a guessing that there rumoured spring election is getting closer as there is no justification for this other than vote buying in Quebec. #cdnpoli

— Gordon MacKenzie ♏ (@jgmacken) April 13, 2021

In other words, Canadian taxpayers are giving Air Canada $6 billion to buy Quebec-made jets to protect Quebec jobs. Again. Election anyone? https://t.co/twRQdUbpyu

— Love My 7 Wood (@LoveMy7Wood) April 13, 2021

Meanwhile, Unifor, the national union representing thousands of Air Canada workers is welcoming the aid package.

“Today’s announcement by the federal government is a recognition that aviation workers are pivotal to the Canadian economy,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The relief package provides a good balance of certainty for communities large and small, the company, and its workers.”

Unifor has been pressing the federal government for months to provide relief for the airline industry, as several other nations have already done.

Unifor welcomes @AirCanada relief packagehttps://t.co/auEn9EFFXK #BuildBackBetter #cdnpoli #canlab #saveCanadianAviation pic.twitter.com/nTYIqgvjZ5

— Unifor (@UniforTheUnion) April 13, 2021

The $5.9 billion package will allow Air Canada to provide refunds to passengers who had flights cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra no additional layoffs would be permitted as part of the deal. Freeland also said the resumption of service to 17 regional routes is a condition of the relief package.