• Air Canada cancellations have long-term implications, says Atlantic business leader

    • Share:
    Thursday, July 2, 2020

    No Charlottetown-Halifax flights had been operating since April COVID-19 slowdown

    Kevin Yarr, CBC

    Atlantic Canada could be feeling an extended impact from Air Canada's decision to suspend some key flights in the region, says the CEO of the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce.
     
    Earlier this week, the airline announced it was "indefinitely suspending" 30 flight routes, including trips from Charlottetown to Halifax and vice versa. In 2019, 35,000 people flew on that route, but planes have not flown the route since early April, when restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic set in.
     
    Air Canada said decreased demand due to the pandemic's lingering impact does not support bringing the four daily round trips between Charlottetown and Halifax back in September, as the airline had originally planned.
     
    Air connections are important for businesses in particular, says Sheri Somerville, CEO of the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce — "not just economic recovery out of COVID, but also our recovery and growth for the future of Atlantic Canada."
     
    The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce is hoping to work with government to find ways to help the economy in the region.
     
    In a news release announcing the changes, Canada's biggest airline said: "Air Canada expects the industry's recovery will take a minimum of three years. As a consequence, other changes to its network and schedule, as well as further service suspensions, will be considered over the coming weeks as the airline takes steps to decisively reduce its overall cost structure and cash burn rate."

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-air-canada-routes-cancelled-chamber-1.5634802

  • Business Truth & Reconciliation Business Truth & Reconciliation

    The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce is taking proactive steps to promote reconciliation and respect for Indigenous rights within the corporate sector. In response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action 92, the Chamber urges its members to embrace the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a guiding framework. This entails a commitment to meaningful consultation, fostering respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before embarking on economic projects. Moreover, the Chamber advocates for equitable access to employment, training, and educational opportunities for Indigenous communities, ensuring they reap sustainable benefits from economic development initiatives.

     

    Recognizing the importance of education, the Chamber encourages businesses to provide comprehensive training for management and staff on the history of Indigenous peoples, including the legacy of residential schools, Indigenous rights, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. Emphasizing intercultural competency, conflict resolution, and anti-racism, these efforts aim to foster a more inclusive and harmonious corporate environment rooted in mutual understanding and respect.

    Learn more click here