Airline Workers Honour Their Fallen Colleagues
Memorial at Jacques-de-Lesseps Park, near the runways at
Montreal's Trudeau International Airport, pays tribute to Capt. Antoine
Forest, left, and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther.
Workers across Canada and around the world mark the Day of Mourning on April 28 for workers who were killed or injured on the job or suffered debilitating illnesses. Workers in the airline sector, family members and friends turn their thoughts to the senseless loss of two young lives: Captain Antoine Forest, a 30-year-old Quebecker from Coteau-du-Lac and his co-pilot, a 22-year-old Ontarian from Peterborough, Mackenzie Gunther. They were killed on March 22 when the Jazz Aviation (Air Canada) flight they were piloting from Montreal was struck by a firetruck shortly after landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport. They left the world as heroes, especially in the eyes of those whose lives they saved. We also think about the flight attendant who miraculously survived and her colleague who will both be marked for life by the incident.
Devoid of all humanity, the cartel parties forming the political class in both Quebec and Canada were unanimous in declaring that the problem was that the CEO of Air Canada offered his condolences in English only and that he must go. His resignation did not prevent a near-collision on April 20, less than a month after the March 22 tragedy, between an Air Canada Express plane and another from Republic Airways at JFK International Airport.
Many people are asking how such a tragedy could occur in 2026 given the available technology. Will those responsible for the neo-liberal wrecking be held accountable for the cuts to airport security they have imposed, whether or not the investigation – in which Canada is "participating" – manages to find a way around laying the blame where it belongs? The Transportation Safety Board reported a record 639 runway incursions in 2024, indicating a rising trend in safety incidents in Canada. But that is not a discussion that those responsible want to hear.
They are unanimous. No need to think about the anguish the March
tragedy caused for so many people or why it happened. They don't want us
to question their cutbacks to public services to facilitate the
militarization of the economy.
Those who run Air Canada have no problem with the fact that the workers are producing the millions of dollars in profits that the company is raking in while it expects its flight attendants to perform part of their job for free. Air Canada forces everybody else, too, to fight for satisfactory wages and working conditions, and treats retirees as disposable second class citizens, taking away benefits it promised would continue through their retirement – no matter the language used.
Those in control have largely remained silent about Air Canada's other nation-wrecking activities, such as abandoning the regions. Meanwhile they are enthusiastic about its participation in the high speed rail project from Quebec City to Toronto. This despite the opposition of ordinary people all along the line, as well as that of people from across the country who will be saddled with the debt for a project that doesn't serve them at all.
Everybody is aware that replacing Michael Rousseau with a
French-speaking CEO will change none of that. It is the social and
economic problems that have been created by the cartel parties on behalf
of the oligarchs that must be dealt with. We must turn our sorrow over
the work-related deaths,
injuries and debilitating illnesses into strength to fight like hell for
the living by working together to take control of the decision-making
processes for all aspects of our lives.
This article was published in
Volume 56 Number 24 - April 28, 2026
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/TML2026/Articles/T560244.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca