Canadian Aerospace Seeks Tariff Exemptions in U.S. Trade War

TOP STORY

As Ottawa grapples with mixed messaging, ever-shifting demands, and bombastic political posturing in its trade war with the U.S., Canada’s aerospace industry is calling for stability and tariff exemptions to avoid disruptions that threaten its ability to thrive. 

Canadian Aerospace Seeks Tariff Exemptions in the U.S. Trade War

Decisions

• Interim order, employee contact information – Association internationale des machinistes et des travailleurs et travailleuses de l’aérospatiale, district 11 c. AAA Canada inc., 2025 QCTAT 960 Union filed complaint under Labour Code that employer interfered with union activities by refusing to provide employees’ contact information – union recently certified and negotiating first collective agreement – Union requested interim order that employer provide employees’ email addresses and phone numbers – employees’ home addresses provided by employer – employer raised preliminary objection that Tribunal should refuse to rule on request for interim order as issue it raised was before arbitrator as part of mediation-arbitration process – employer also argued granting interim order equivalent to ruling on merits of complaint – Tribunal disagreed – exclusive jurisdiction of Tribunal over complaint made under Labour Code – different findings sought by complaint (finding of employer interference) and interim order (provision of employees’ contact information) – Tribunal found criteria of serious harm and balance of inconvenience necessitated interim order – Tribunal noted union’s duty to negotiate a first collective agreement in timely manner and increased difficulty to reach employees working at clients’ workplaces – lack of efficient means of communication with employees would result in serious prejudice to union – interim order would cause no harm to employer – email addresses sufficient as interim measure, phone numbers not necessary – Tribunal granted interim order that employer provide employees’ email addresses within 5 days and that union take necessary measures to protect confidentiality of personal email addresses
• Compensation, delay – Davoodi v. WestJet Airlines Ltd, 2025 BCCRT 313 Applicant claimed $1,200 in compensation before Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) for more than 12-hour delay in arriving at destination – 2-year limitation period under Limitation Act applies to claims made to CRT – flight occurred more than 2 years prior to claim being filed – applicant argued claim filed once he received Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) decision which applicant said was unsatisfactory – not reason to extend limitation period – limitation period runs while engaged in another legally binding process – claim barred by Limitation Act – furthermore, same claim already made to and decided by CTA – CTA decision was a final decision between same parties on same issue – test for issue estoppel met –no jurisdiction to hear claim – applicant’s claim dismissed
• Workers’ compensation, defendants – Air Canada et Mailloux, 2025 QCTAT 908 Workers’ compensation board’s allocation of responsibility regarding worker’s hearing loss challenged by airline where worker previously worked – worker’s other former employers (including recent employer) added to proceeding as interested parties before the Administrative Labour Tribunal – four of them sought to be removed as interested parties in the proceeding on a preliminary basis – airline argued it would be premature to do so before hearing on the merits – Tribunal found in relation to one of the interested parties that the evidence available in the file did not allow the exclusion of any risk factor that could have contributed to the development of the worker’s hearing loss, and considered it premature to exclude that former employer as an interested party on a preliminary basis – all others were removed as interested parties

CTA Decisions

Application – Les Nolisements Aériens Johnny May (2024) Ltée / Johnny May’s Air Charters (2024) Ltd. – Determination No. A-2025-42 Application for licence to operate a domestic service, small aircraft – licence issued

Application – A.B. Flight Services, Inc. c.o.b. A.B. Charter; Facility Once LLC; ORION Airmotive Management – Determination No. A-2025-44 Application to continue suspension of Licence 000139 – suspension continued

Application – Butler Aviation, Inc. c.o.b. Apex Aero – Determination No. A-2025-45 Application for licence to operate a non-scheduled international service between Canada and the United States – licence issued, subject to conditions

Application – Sunwing Airlines Inc., on behalf of itself and WestJet – Determination No. A-2025-46 Application for approval to permit Sunwing to provide its scheduled international services, large aircraft, between Canada and certain countries using aircraft with flight crew provided by WestJet, beginning on April 1, 2025, to May 29, 2025 – approval granted, subject to conditions

Suspension – White Cloud Charter LLC – Order No. 2025-A-S-31 Licence 961027 

Suspension – Air Trek, Inc. – Order No. 2025-A-S-35 Licence 967376 

TC/TSB News

• Airworthiness Directives
• Civil Aviation Safety Alerts
• Canada expands air transport agreement with Senegal
• Connecting Atlantic Canada by air to help our economy soar

Industry Association News

• CBAA – CBAA Board positions opened for 2025
• CBAA – Your Weekly Bulletin – March 13, 2025
• COPA – COPA’S long-term leadership
• NACC – A Team Canada approach to tariffs involves regulatory reform

Union News

• CUPE – Liberal airport privatization scheme should be grounded: Canada’s flight attendants
• Unifor – Unifor urges government and airport authorities to say no to privatization

Airport News

• A longtime defender of Stephenville airport’s new owner, the mayor is now worried about the future
• ADM welcomes Policy Statement regarding investments in Canadian airports
• Aerospace Innovation Hub, the Calgary Airport Authority, and WestJet launch innovation challenge to elevate the travel experience
• Bathurst Regional Airport plans path forward
• Government of Canada releases policy statement on airport investment
• Canadian Airports Council’s response to Government’s policy statement on investment at National Airports System airports
• Experience the magic of art and connection at YMM’s Digital Art Exhibit launch
• Growing Sustainably: Why and how airports can initiate, maintain, or enhance their sustainability commitments
• New video eases airport anxiety for kids with sensory needs
• Passengers choose the world’s best airports for customer experience
• Policy statement on investment at National Airports System airports operated by airport authorities
• RCMP investigate ‘security incident’ at Calgary International Airport
• Toronto Pearson recaptures global award for delivering exceptional experience for passengers
• Toronto Pearson responds to Government of Canada’s airport investment policy statement

Rotary Operator News

• 1st VERTICON concludes as a resounding success
• Boost Systems expands mission equipment product lines with next-generation aerial wash system featuring ISOLAIR tank
• Enstrom adds Service Centre in Ontario – Heli-Lynx Helicopters
• GE Aerospace celebrates 25 years of partnership with StandardAero, supporting rotorcraft in Canada
• Horizon Aircraft expects growing interest in eVTOL sector from military and defence
• Night-capable drone opens ‘whole new world’ for Vancouver Island search-and-rescue team
• United Rotorcraft and DART Aerospace announce Custom Helicopters as launch customer for Novel Super Puma Fire Attack System
• v2track opens North American sales and support center
• ZenaTech expands ZenaDrone team by 35 engineers and technicians to meet drone production manufacturing capacity 
• ZenaTech signs LOI to acquire sixth land survey company in Arizona and first in the Southwest Region for drone as a service

General Aviation News

• As Canada goes ‘elbows up,’ U.S. aviation industry groups seek tariff exemptions
• Bombardier honored with Aviation Week Network Laureate Award for Environmental Stewardship
• Canada markets airports to investors in push to attract capital
• EQUINOX announces historic agreement to offer commission-free air brokerage to Canadian companies
• Nolinor Aviation pioneers new solution for Boeing 737-200 combi flights
• Reduce airport-related fees and allow competition from foreign airlines to lower sky-high airfares for Canadians
• Skyservice appointed first authorized Honeywell Nacelle Service Centre in Canada
• Tariffs rush some business jet deals, drive aviation cost fears
• Women in aviation event helps Ottawa girls see themselves in the air