New Brunswick’s education minister is attacking Air Canada, saying the airline is incompetent because it decided over the weekend to cancel a Monday flight that would have taken him and four officials to a meeting in Regina. Dominic Cardy posted a series of tweets Saturday, saying the cancellation — announced earlier in the day — means New Brunswick will not be represented at this year’s Council of Ministers of Education meeting. Cardy followed by calling for deregulation of Canada’s airline industry. “I speak for myself,” he wrote. “I hope Canadians start asking why we pay more for flights than anyone else in the world in exchange for terrible service. Paying for unavailable service is not left vs. right. It says I’m being cut out.” His comments sparked an online debate, with some asking the minister why his delegation had to attend in person instead of participating in a Zoom call, which would have saved taxpayers money. In response, Cardi said he did not run the council and doubled down by suggesting that “incompetent and downtrodden airlines” taking money for services they know they cannot provide could be committing fraud. Air Canada could not immediately be reached for comment. An online commenter suggested that Cardy try to book a flight on another airline. “Checking for other tickets on other airlines had crossed my mind, but thanks for the professional advice,” the minister tweeted. The comment prompted the following response: “Your bag is top notch!” Air Canada announced last week that it would cut more than 15 percent of its schedule in July and August — more than 9,500 flights — due to an air transportation system swamped by surging demand. Also last week, Calgary-based WestJet Airlines confirmed it is operating 32 percent fewer flights to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport in July than before the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent weeks, the airline industry’s logistical woes have led to long lines, connection disruptions and flight cancellations at many Canadian airports. As for Cardy’s call for deregulation, one sarcastic observer suggested deregulating many other industries and public institutions, including “everything from soup to baby formula to health care… and let’s go back to the Middle Ages!” Cardi’s response was blunt: “That sounds super stupid. But you do.” This isn’t the first time Cardy has targeted Canada’s airlines. He called for deregulation June 11, saying Atlantic Canadians are paying out-of-pocket fares for delayed and canceled flights. “Atlantic Canada has the worst commercial air service of any place I’ve been, including Bangladesh and Nepal,” he tweeted. “(The) Canadian government needs to deregulate the airline industry like most countries did decades ago.” By Michael MacDonald in Halifax This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 3, 2022.
New Brunswick will not be represented at this year’s Board of Education meeting in Regina on Monday because @AirCanada has just canceled the delegation’s tickets. Deregulation of Canada’s airlines. Now. — Dominic Cardy 🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DominicCardy) July 2, 2022
