ALPA Canada Responds to Express Entry Announcement
Ottawa, Ont.—Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) Canada president Capt. Tim Perry issued the following statement in response to the federal government’s recent announcement of the first-ever category-based selection invitations for newcomers with work experience in transport.
“The government has announced that changes to Canada’s Express Entry system will help address labour shortages in the transport sector by inviting candidates with specific work experience to apply for permanent residence.
“While ALPA Canada acknowledges that Express Entry with a pathway to Canadian citizenship is far better than allowing airlines to hire pilots through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, this is still a band-aid solution that does not address the root of the problem. There are better ways the government could address the issue of labour shortages in our sector.
“It is absolutely necessary for airline sector stakeholders and the government to work together to train more pilots for the future and make the pilot profession more accessible, affordable, and attractive. We must remove barriers to training for all Canadians and implement sustainable solutions to achieve a more stable air traffic system for all Canadians.
“We are calling on Canada’s airline sector stakeholders and the government to increase collaboration with us to ensure our industry’s stability. Let’s work together to ensure Canadians receive the level of service and safety they deserve while focusing on creating Canadian jobs.”
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 75,000 pilots at 43 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA Canada website at alpacanada.ca or follow us on Twitter @ALPACanada.
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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org
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