Aviation Leaders Call on Canada’s Transport Ministers to Strengthen, Not Weaken, Safety Protections
Ottawa, Ont.— Today, as Canada’s Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Ministers of Transport gather for their annual meeting to discuss our nation’s most pressing transportation challenges, Canada’s air traffic controllers and airline pilots are calling on the Ministers to take decisive action to strengthen—not roll back—critical safety protections for air travel.
Nick von Schoenberg, President of the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association (CATCA), and Captain Tim Perry, President of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Canada, are asking Ministers to prioritize the recommendations of our comprehensive White Paper on Canadian aviation safety, Charting a Flight Path for the Future of Canadian Aviation,which outlines how our current system requires focused attention and resources to remain safe and sustainable. Canada, along with its provincial and territorial partners, must prioritize measures essential to aviation safety.
“Canadian aviation has long been recognized for its high safety standards. We cannot afford to weaken safety measures, such as our Flight Time and Duty Time regulations, in pursuit of cost-cutting or convenience. Aviation safety should never be compromised,” said Capt. Tim Perry.
ALPA and CATCA are also calling on the Ministers to publicly commit to workers— and more importantly, to the Canadian public—that they will not roll back critical aviation safety measures in favour of increasing operators’ bottom lines. At the conclusion of the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Transport Ministers’ meeting, we will be looking for specific language in the Ministerial Communique, signed by all Ministers, which affirms the collective will to improve aviation safety.
“The safety of passengers, crews, and all Canadians depends on robust, evidence-based regulations that prioritize safety,” said von Schoenberg. “Work intensification and fatigue remain serious concerns in air traffic control operations. Ministers must demonstrate leadership and work together with all stakeholders to ensure a system that is resilient, well-staffed, and safe for all.”
The International Civil Aviation Organization’s 2023 audit of Canada’s aviation system has already provided a blueprint for what needs to be improved. Canada used to be among the top 10 performing countries but has now received a score of just 65%.
About ALPA and CATCA
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing more than 79,000 pilots at 42 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit alpa.org or follow us on X @WeAreALPA and @ALPACanada.
The Canadian Air Traffic Control Association (CATCA) represents Canada’s air traffic controllers, who ensure the safe and efficient movement of aircraft in Canadian airspace
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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org
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