Air Canada wins right to outsource heavy maintenance work

A standoff between Air Canada and the Manitoba govt over the airline’s right to move maintenance jobs out of Winnipeg ended Wednesday with the signing of Bill C-10 into law. The contentious bill to amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act and lift a long-standing requirement that the airline keep its maintenance operations in Winnipeg, Montreal and Mississauga boiled over Tuesday with a senior executive at the airline issuing an ultimatum to the Federal govt. “If this bill does not go forward, we will not create the centre of excellence in Manitoba, and we will not create a centre of excellence in Quebec,” Kevin Howlett, the senior vice-president for govt affairs and regional markets for Air Canada told the Senate. <br/>