jsfrSE

This has been addressed by the Quebec government last year with specific measures, such as the Choose Montreal campaign and other initiatives.

http://www.montrealinternational.com...tay-in-quebec/

“The new initiative shows that the Government of Québec is determined to step up its efforts to get as many young international students as possible to stay in Québec, particularly in Greater Montréal. They have a Québec degree, speak French, and are already familiar with our society and culture. They are the best we can get and we want them to stay and help our economy grow,”

CanRulez

Students study in Quebec because it has one of the lowest average tuition fees across Canada.

Once that degree is obtained, they go to where the money is.

A Choose Montreal campaign will not change that.

acysb87

Part A, Much of Canada is not business friendly compared to many other jurisdictions world wide.

As for your part B, IMO, yes to value/service and no to efficiency.

Dorian

Throwaway editorial.

tcook052

Please note a few posts have been deleted as the topic of transfer payments or equalization are not germane to the discussion. Posters wanting to engage in a debate about the wider economic realities and real or perceived inequalities of our federal system are asked to find an alternate venue for such a discussion.

Regards,

tcook052
AC forum moderator

CZAMFlyer

It's easy to dismiss outright an opinion that doesn't match one's own. The editorial does give the reader pause to consider the validity of commonly-held or fashionable ideas and invite more nuanced thought.

However, despite eloquently-written invitations, most people will stick to the belief they heard first and/or is most convenient for them. These are often people who see issues in black or white, rather than however-many shades of grey. Once entrenched into their belief, come hell or high water, they will not back down nor acknowledge any alternate perspective.

Dorian

That article is about government departments. I'm talking real world experience that has and continues to directly impact me.
What would you believe more...yourself or an editorial?

Handcake

There is a lot of money to be had in Montreal, and Quebec, just like the rest of Canada.

My brother has stayed in Montreal all his life, despite the fact everyone else moved to either Ontario or Alberta in our family. He isn't raking in the cash, but he is able to maintain a lifestyle he couldn't in the GTA for example. He has a big house with a pool and lives in a good suburban area about 40mins from downtown when you include traffic in the commute time. His house in GTA would probably be over 1mil dollars...it is like a fraction of that in the Montreal area. That's why people choose to stay in Montreal.

Going back to the OP: My brother has a small business. It is licensed in Cornwall just on the other side of the border. The reason is he can save thousands of dollars a year as an Ontario business rather than Quebec business.

AC should leave, but can't due to the AC Act.

For those who don't know, Quebec is the most socialist province in Canada, and those programs need to be paid for some how - for a company's bottom line, staying isn't always profitable compared to other provinces. For AC, my guess is, those who work for the company and stay in Quebec do so because they enjoy the job and agree with the social programs available to them - like maybe their kids getting cheap tuition at McGill as an example.

upgradesecret

As Hollis Harris said to a parliamentary committee:
'Headquarters could be a Receptionist and a Janitor.'

Transpacificflyer

What exactly is the point of a thread like this unless it is to provide an opportunity for some people who do not have much understanding of the history of Canada to offer themselves up for ridicule, or for some latent knuckle draggers to get a few cheap shots in?

How exactly would AC become more "efficient and hence provide better value or service" if the HO was in BC or ON? What magically changes? Are the FAs on the YVR TPAC flights going to develop additional abilities such that cabin service improves or that they clean the lavs? How exactly would the catering loaded in YYZ or YVR improve?

Corruption: Yes, there is corruption in Quebec. There is endemic corruption in every province and territory in Canada. Corruption is a way of life in the Maritime provinces. How can anyone sing the praises of BC and ON after the political fundraising antics of Christy Clarke, or the fun with Ford era without collapsing into a fit of hysterical laughter? None of this has anything to do with Air Canada's operations, though.

Unions: Air Canada's unions are national and are membership driven. The attempt to link union - company relations to the company's Canadian domicile is idiotic. The Canadian FAs are part of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The intimation that its 6500 Air Canada members are "radicalized" because the company they work for is technically located in Montreal indicates that the purveyor of such a ludicrous position knows SFA about the airlines's unions or its labour relations.

Business Friendly: The Quebec government is as business friendly as any other provincial government. All provinces have to create, maintain and retain jobs. What exactly are the Quebec rules that hamper Air Canada anyway? If one wishes to make a claim, one should be able to provide some actual examples of how AC has been hampered.

Cost of Living: What is not mentioned is that any attempt to relocate executives to BC or ON would necessitate a significant increase in pay and benefits for the employees. $500,000 will buy a nice home in urban Montreal. In the greater Vancouver area, it might get you a closet in a crack house, and in the GTA, good luck on finding anything in that price range. The Vancouver and Toronto regions are just too expensive.

Adam Smith

^

Legally, the head offices of both RBC and BMO are still in Montreal, even though the senior execs have essentially all been in Toronto for 40+ years. AC could probably find a way to pull off the same trick if it really wanted.

Wpgjetse

Hard to do that trick. I believe AC is required to have a certain % of employees in Quebec. Maybe someone can confirm this.

upgradesecret

When Air Canada decided to buy the Bombardier C Series the federal government cleared the way to do just that.

Adam Smith

No. From the Air Canada Public Participation Act:

That's it with regards to head office.

ensco

I don't see how to discuss this without plunging this into language politics. You cannot discuss the issue of locating a major company HQ in Quebec without discussing the impact of Bill 101 on the ability of the Quebec companies to recruit executives from outside the province.

I see both sides of it. Emotions run high on this one, so I will duck out here.