OTTAWA — ALPA Canada leadership and elected ALPA representatives from across Canada met with MPs and their staff on Parliament Hill for high-level talks.

The discussions centered on what ALPA called “flight- and duty-time issues and the impact of governmental interference in the collective bargaining process.”

ALPA added: “It is well known that certain manufacturers and regulators around the world are trying to remove the second pilot from commercial flights. Should this occur, no second pilot would be available to help in flight or to manage emergencies. This is not acceptable.”

Additionally, another safety issue persists, said Capt. Tim Perry, ALPA Canada president.

“Some key stakeholders in Canada’s aviation industry continue calling on the government to relax or roll back Canada’s flight- and duty-time regulations. Our message to legislators cannot be clearer: We oppose any attempt to weaken or suspend flight- and duty-time regulations. Make no mistake, exemptions or relief from flight- and duty-time regulations for commercial operators compromise safety and increase the risk to our passengers and flight crews,” he said.

“Earlier this year government interventions to end labour disputes in the federal sector disincentivized employers’ willingness to conclude fair collective agreements with their employees. It is crucial that the federal government refrains from interfering in the collective bargaining process to allow parties to reach a freely negotiated agreement,” he added.

Capt. Perry said ALPA remains committed to working with the government and other aviation stakeholders to ensure Canadians have the safest and most robust aviation industry possible.

ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 79,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines.