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 on 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 in the world in exchange for terrible service. Paying for unavailable services is not left versus right. They say I’m tearing up.” 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 does not run the council and doubled down by suggesting that “incompetent and disreputable airlines” who take 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 July and August schedule — more than 9,500 flights — because of an air transport 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!” Cardy’s response was blunt: “This all sounds extremely stupid. But you do you.” 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 liberalize the airline industry, as most countries did decades ago.” The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
