The Bloc Québécois has expressed certain reservations about the takeover of the airline Sunwing by WestJet, particularly with regard to the preservation of services in French to travelers and jobs in Quebec.
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An in-depth review of the transaction announced on March 2 was therefore requested from the Minister of Transport, Omar Alghabra.
“It is in my opinion, as well as that of the Bloc Québécois, that this transaction certainly involves questions of public interest, particularly with regard to competition, jobs in Quebec and services in French”, is it possible to read in the letter sent Thursday by Xavier Barsalou-Duval, the Bloc’s spokesperson for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
In addition to concerns about an imbalance in the Canadian air transport market, Yves-François Blanchet’s party wants to ensure that WestJet will keep Sunwing’s offices in Laval.
“We have too often been helpless witnesses of companies announcing their desire to maintain a Quebec head office only to finally change their minds or drastically cut jobs once the transaction has been concluded,” said the MP for Pierre-Boucher-Les Patriotes. -Vercheres.
The maintenance of services in French is also raised by the Bloc member, who recalled that the aviation sector can sometimes be recognized for its “hostility towards French”.
The conclusion of the transaction between the two airlines is expected by the end of 2022 after obtaining regulatory approvals.
Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com