OTTAWA, Ontario - In a move to prevent a potential shutdown, Air Canada, along with prominent business leaders, has called on the Canadian government to intervene in ongoing labor negotiations with its pilots. However, the country's Labor Minister has emphasized that both parties should aim to negotiate a deal.

Air Canada spokesperson Christophe Hennebelle reiterated the airline's commitment to negotiations but highlighted the challenge of meeting the wage demands put forth by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). "The issue lies in the fact that we are faced with unreasonable wage demands that ALPA refuses to moderate," Hennebelle stated.

The union representing 5,200 pilots argues that Air Canada continues to generate record profits while expecting pilots to accept below-market compensation. These discussions have been ongoing for over a year, with pilots advocating for wages that are on par with their counterparts in the United States.

At present, both parties can issue a 72-hour notice of a strike or lockout starting Sunday. This notice would trigger Air Canada's three-day wind-down plan, potentially leading to a complete work stoppage as early as September 18. Hennebelle emphasized that the airline is not requesting immediate intervention from the government, but expects support in order to avert significant disruptions for the over 110,000 passengers it serves daily.

Concerns over potential economic disruptions spurred multiple business groups to convene in Ottawa and call for swift action, including binding arbitration. Candace Laing, President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, highlighted that arbitration could facilitate a successful resolution and prevent the wider impacts associated with a shutdown.

Echoing these sentiments, Goldy Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada, emphasized that another major disruption to the country's transportation network should be avoided, as it would have far-reaching consequences for the Canadian economy.

However, Federal Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon made it clear during a news conference that the responsibility lies with the two parties to reach an agreement. "There's no reason for these parties not to be able to achieve a collective agreement," he stated firmly. "These parties should be under no ambiguity as to what my message is to them today. Knuckle down, get a deal."

It is worth noting that in August, the Canadian government sought a back-to-work order from the country's industrial relations board to end a railway shutdown. When questioned about a potential comparison, MacKinnon emphasized the significant differences between the two cases.

Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh declared that his party would not support any measures to force pilots back to work. "If there's any bills being proposed on back to work legislation, we're going to oppose that," Singh asserted.

With the clock ticking, stakeholders are keeping a close eye on the negotiations, hoping for resolution to safeguard the interests of both Air Canada and its pilots while mitigating potential disruptions to Canada's transportation network and economy.