Canada ready for talks on aid to airlines, which could include loans

Canada is ready to start talks with major airlines this week about financial assistance to the hard-hit sector that could come in the form of loans or other support, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said Sunday. The government is drafting a package of measures for Canadian airlines, airports and the aerospace sector, Garneau said, confirming an exclusive story last week by Reuters. “As part of this package, we are ready to establish a process with major airlines regarding financial assistance which could include loans and potentially other support to secure important results for Canadians,” Garneau said. He said it would ensure that regional communities would retain their connections to the rest of Canada, the world’s second-largest country by area, and added that “strict conditions” would come with any aid. Garneau also said Canada would not spend “one penny of taxpayer money on airlines” until Canadians received refunds for flights that were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. <br/>