/R E P E A T -- The Conservative government must stop compromising air transport and civil aviation safety/

MONTREAL, March 19, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Public Service Alliance of Canada, Québec Region (PSAC-Québec), with the support of three NDP MPs, condemns the ideological choices of the Conservative government which have compromised civil aviation safety.

PSAC-Quebec will be holding a press conference to discuss this alarming situation.  Here are the details:

Date and time: Tuesday, March 20 at 11 a.m.

Location: The Montréal Airport Marriott Hotel, 800 Place Leigh Capreol, Dorval

In attendance:

• Magali Picard, alternate Regional Executive Vice-President, PSAC-Québec
• Isabelle Morin, NDP MP for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce/Lachine
• Jamie Nicholls, NDP MP for Vaudreuil/Soulanges and Deputy Transport Critic
• Alexandre Boulerice, NDP MP for Rosemont/La Petite-Patrie and Treasury Board Critic

"PSAC-Québec is extremely concerned over the fact that increasingly fewer planes are being inspected by Transport Canada inspectors.  Due to a lack of resources, Transport Canada has shifted from physical inspections of aircraft to paper inspections.  It is totally appalling!  We can't help but conclude that even moderate cuts of 5% in the March 29 budget will cause severe pain," commented an indignant Magali Picard, alternate Regional Executive Vice-President, PSAC-Québec.

"For months now, the Conservatives have been saying that safety is their priority in transport.  But when they are asked to take concrete steps, they refuse to do so.  As far as I am concerned, one thing we should never neglect is the safety of airport workers and users.  One must also bear in mind that neglecting safety at urban airports such as Montréal-Trudeau could have consequences for the more than 200,000 people who live around the airport," claimed Isabelle Morin, the NDP MP for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce/Lachine.

"The safety of citizens is clearly not a priority for Stephen Harper.  The Conservative government is planning on cutting funding for transport safety in the upcoming budget.  The government cannot claim to be ensuring safety on the one hand and then turn around and slash funding for safety.  They must be consistent and walk the talk," declared Jamie Nicholls, NDP Deputy Transport Critic.

"It is essential that workers who look after passenger safety be paid commensurate with their role and their knowledge.  This principle ensures staff retention in the industry and fairness within the work team," pointed out Alexandre Boulerice, the NDP Treasury Board Critic.

PSAC-Québec and the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees are demanding that the Conservative government provide the funding necessary to adequately safeguard airline transportation safety and security.  Self-inspection, maintaining salary disparities in comparison with the industry and attrition measures in the area of public services are no way to go about balancing public finances. PSAC-Québec, meanwhile, is proposing that raising the taxes of large companies would boost the government revenues, as these companies have been benefitting from tax reductions for several years now.

PSAC represents more than 178,000 members across Canada.  An FTQ affiliate, PSAC-Quebec has more than 20,000 members in the federal public sector, including Transport Canada civil aviation inspectors working at the airport.

PSAC-Quebec also has 20,000 members in Quebec universities and in the private sector.

Patrick Leblanc, political attaché, PSAC-Québec, 514-706-5997, [email protected]