Quebec to sue Air Canada over Aveos closure

The Quebec government is taking Air Canada to court in an attempt to keep more than 2,000 aircraft maintenance jobs in Montreal.

Aveos, a subsidiary of Air Canada that was responsible for the upkeep of the company's planes, declared bankruptcy last month.

The firm started liquidating its assets and laid off 2,600 unionized employees.

The provinceannounced Tuesdayitwillfile a lawsuit in Quebec Superior Court on the grounds the carrier isobligated to keep its maintenance services in Montreal, in accordance with a1988 federal law.

The Air Canada Public Participation Actrequires thecorporation to "maintain operational and overhaul centres in the City of Winnipeg, the Montreal Urban Community and the City of Mississauga."

The companys abrupt closure left employees out of work in its three main plants in Montreal, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Other facilities were also closed in Edmonton, Calgary, Trenton, Ont., and Mississauga.

Last week, a Quebec judge ruled former employees of the insolvent aircraft maintenance company will share $5.8 million in back pay, or up to $2,000 each.

Nearly 200 Aveos workersstaged a march indowntown Montreal onTuesday morning, joined by former Liberal leader Stphane Dion. The workers were headed for the private residence of Air Canada board member Pierre Marc Johnson.