The union representing WestJet’s cabin crew is demanding an apology from the airline after Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre used the company’s communications system to address passengers on a flight from Quebec to Calgary.

In a video circulating online, Mr. Poilievre is seen speaking to passengers on a WestJet flight that left Quebec for Calgary following the Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) convention on Sunday evening.

Mr. Poilievre’s “campaign”-style speech lasts about 45 seconds and is greeted with laughter and cheers from airline passengers.

The head of WestJet’s cabin crew union, Alia Hussain, finds it very disappointing that the airline allowed a politician to use the plane’s public address system, which is normally reserved for flight attendants.

In a statement released on She points out that airline policies state that only crew members are allowed to use this communication system.

Ms Hussain is demanding an apology from WestJet for blaming crew members in this matter. She says the airline and Mr. Poilievre showed a lack of judgment.

In the video, Mr. Poilievre, standing at the front of the plane, greets the flight’s passengers using the handset of the communications system normally used by flight attendants.

The conservative leader uses partisan slogans: “Who is ready for common sense?” he asks the passengers. He continues with a message “from your captain” informing them of “some turbulence” but that it will only last for about two years, when an entirely new crew and pilot will be piloting the aircraft.

When questioned by The Canadian Press on Tuesday, WestJet said it had added two flights between Western Canada and Quebec to meet demand expected by the Conservative Congress.

“The flight in question (in the video) was added to our schedule and promoted as a CCP Convention flight,” company spokeswoman Madison Kruger said in an email.

She also emphasized that the use of the sound system by anyone other than flight attendants was “rare” and reserved for “exceptional occasions (…) like this.”

Ms. Kruger added that Mr. Poilievre’s speech was “approved in advance by WestJet operations management and pending the final decision of the operations team.”

WestJet assures that it does not endorse any political party or organization.