OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government is defending its decision to intervene to resolve a labour dispute at Canada's largest airline amid criticism from unions and opposition parties that the move sides with big business.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu said Saturday that she directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order Air Canada and the union representing its flight attendants to resume operations and resolve the dispute through binding arbitration.

Hajdu said she made the call after meeting with both sides Friday night, finding that talks had broken down and the parties remained too far apart to resolve the conflict quickly enough.

"Now is not the time to take risks with our economy. A work stoppage would cause thousands of Canadians to be stranded abroad and across this count

See Full Page