Looming Air Canada pilot strike has N.L.'s tourism sector on edge

Pillars of Newfoundland and Labrador's tourism industry are raising the alarm over what a potential Air Canada pilot strike could mean for operators, businesses and residents.

Tourism Minister Steve Crocker told reporters Wednesday that looming cancellations have already affected the province at a crucial time on the tourism calendar.

"We hear from operators now, you know, pretty much hourly that people are cancelling," Crocker said.

"We're into the last of our summer season going into the strongest part of our shoulder season. And this is make or break for some tourism operators. This means … red or black."

Air Canada is finalizing plans to suspend most of its operations as talks with the union representing its pilots have reached an impasse over wage demands. The airline has said a 72-hour strike notice or lockout could be issued on Sunday.

Crocker said any kind of disruption would have massive implications for the province and the tourism sector. Air Canada will move 4,500 people in and out of Newfoundland and Labrador on Wednesday, he said, and moves around 100,000 people over the course of a typical September.

He estimated a three-day shutdown would have a two-week impact on the province.

Craig Foley, CEO of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, said this week has been troubling for members.

"This is a terrible concern for an awful lot of operators," he said. "This is revenue that many of the operators were depending on. It's going to be really hard to resell that now, especially if we're not able to move people here."

AnnMarie Boudreau, CEO of the St. John's Board of Trade, said the group is also worried about the implications of a shutdown.

She's written Premier Andrew Furey and federal ministers calling for the federal government to step in with binding arbitration.

"I think it would be really critical if government right now took a view of being helpful for Canadians and really did kind of prioritize the economy," Boudreau said.

"Our province is quite isolated. We really do rely on air connectivity, and there are businesses here in Newfoundland and Labrador that import goods.… Having a reliable air system is a critical part of being able to do that. So it's concerning for us that we may lose that critical piece of infrastructure."

Crocker is urging both parties to stay at the table to find a resolution. While both sides need to be respected, he said, there will have to come a time when someone steps in.

"I think that's a judgment call of the federal government, but I think they need right now to be accounting for the impacts that this can have to industry around this country."

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