Manitoba applauds Quebec court ruling in Air Canada labour case

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger says his government welcomes a Quebec Court of Appeal ruling that orders Air Canada to keep maintenance operations in the province as well as in Quebec and Ontario.

The court ruled last week that Air Canada breached the Air Canada Public Participation Act when it laid off thousands of unionized maintenance workers.

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The federal legislation, which was passed in 1988 to privatize Air Canada, requires the airline to keep heavy maintenance operations in Winnipeg, Montreal and Mississauga, Ont.

But Air Canada subcontractor Aveos Fleet Performance Inc. went out of business in 2012, laying off more than 2,400 employees — including 400 in Winnipeg — from its airframe maintenance centres.

The latest ruling upholds a lower court's 2013 decision that backed a lawsuit filed by the Quebec government. Selinger said the Manitoba government has supported Quebec in the court process.

"Job losses don't just hurt the person who loses their job, they hurt their entire family," Selinger said in a news release Monday.

"We continue to support industry to locate, stay and grow in Manitoba."

District Lodge 140 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents the laid-off Manitoba workers, said it's pleased with the latest court ruling.

After the court of appeal ruling was issued, Air Canada said it is considering whether to ask the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn it.