Tories move to shut down Air Canada strike

Air Canada’s flight from Ottawa arrived on time at the Iqaluit airport on June 14 despite a walk-out by agents at the Ottawa airport. (PHOTO BY SARAH ROGERS)

POSTMEDIA NEWS

Air Canada scheduled flight from Ottawa arrived at the Iqaluit airport on June 14 with no delay.

About two dozen Air Canada workers picketed at the Ottawa airport Tuesday morning, but the effect on travellers was minimal, with short lines at the airline’s service counters and people being checked in efficiently by managers working at the desks.

But the Harper government is signalling it will stop the Air Canada strike dead in its tracks, announcing Tuesday that it will table back-to-work legislation to end the labour disruption that began only hours earlier.

Labour Minister Lisa Raitt made the announcement in the House of Commons Tuesday and in the evening, her office filed a notice for the introduction of a government bill entitled “An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of air service operations.”

Normally, once notice of legislation is given in the House, the government cannot introduce the actual bill for 48 hours — meaning the back-to-work legislation wouldn’t come until Thursday.

About 3,800 agents from the country’s largest carrier walked off the job across the country Tuesday, in the first major strike faced by Air Canada in nearly 13 years.

with files from Nunatsiaq News