A listener reported that after enjoying the advantage of pre-boarding for executive class, Doer quietly assumed his seat in 2A. "If one of the women hadn't said "Gary" I wouldn't have realized it was the Premier," said our listener.
However, one of his 2 female companions caused a ruckus when her ginormous carry-on bag, which she insisted could not be flown as checked luggage, did not fit into the overhead bins. The diva-like histrionics held up the great unwashed class of passengers for 5 minutes until the bag was finally wedged out of sight.
Then, something happened during the flight that caused another great hue and cry upon landing. Something about "moved on the wires", "Federation of Labour", the name "Rick Clark ", and the premier muttering "it wasn't right it was leaked."
Our listener suggested we could find our what the problem was for the Premier, and as we often say, google is your friend. Here is the story:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1087531.html
"Peter MacKay has some explaining to do after he was the only Nova Scotia MP who did not sign a pledge form to help stop the closure of the Air Canada base in Halifax," federation president Rick Clarke said Wednesday.
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Air Canada announced several months ago that it planned to close its Halifax flight attendant base on Nov. 1 and lay off 187 employees. The airline is also shutting down its Winnipeg base, with the loss of 144 flight attendants, and laying off up to 225 in Vancouver.
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The provincial labour leader has also called on Premier Rodney MacDonald to follow up on a promise he made a few weeks ago to "hop on a plane" to meet with Air Canada officials in Montreal.
Mr. Clarke said the premier should follow the lead of his Manitoba counterpart, Gary Doer, who has taken a number of steps to try to stop the closure of the Winnipeg base, including offering a provincial discount on fuel tax that would save Air Canada about $2 million a year.
Although we stand to be corrected, it would appear that this is the first anyone has reported about Doer's generous offer to reduce feul tax for the airline.
Perhaps the taxpayers of Manitoba could be next.
Within minutes after we got the scoop about the scoop, the province emailed a press release, no doubt to divert attention from Clark's unfortunate loose-lippedness:
Province Requests Declaration To Save Winnipeg's Flight Attendant Base
The Manitoba government has filed a notice of application in the Court of Queen's Bench seeking a declaration that Air Canada's decision to close the Winnipeg flight attendant base is in breach of the federal Air Canada Public Participation Act, which requires the corporation to maintain operational and overhaul centres in the city of Winnipeg, Competitiveness, Training, and Trade Minster Andrew Swan announced today.
"We are asking the court to clarify the legal authority under which Winnipeg's flight attendant base is being closed," said Swan. "When the federal government privatized Air Canada in 1988, Manitobans were assured jobs, including those of flight attendants, would be maintained in Winnipeg. We are relying on the wording of the legislation to keep that commitment."
Swan pointed specifically to section 6(1)(d) of the Air Canada Public Participation Act, which requires "the Corporation to maintain operational and overhaul centres in the City of Winnipeg, the Montreal Urban Community and the City of
Mississauga." He also noted further assurances to this effect were provided by parliamentarians at the time this legislation was debated in the House of Commons.
"Air Canada's decision to close the flight attendant base seems inconsistent with what was contemplated in the federal legislation and we want the court to provide clarification on this point," said Swan.
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This story, more exclusive news on Porkgate, Mayor Sam Katz live in studio at 4.30, and a special interview with wrestling star Kenny Omega at 5.10 Pm, all on todays' show.
