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Canada Says It’s Too Early to Draw Conclusions on Boeing Crash

Canada Says It’s Too Early to Draw Conclusions on Boeing Crash

(Bloomberg) -- Canada is signaling it won’t rush to ground Boeing Co.’s 737 Max, awaiting an investigation into a second fatal crash even as 40 other nations temporarily take the airliner out of service.

Transport Minister Marc Garneau, in a statement to fellow Liberal Party lawmakers Tuesday evening, said it was too early to determine the cause of this weekend’s deadly crash in Ethiopia, adding no one should speculate on what happened. He stressed that the investigation is ongoing.

Canada Says It’s Too Early to Draw Conclusions on Boeing Crash

“I will not hesitate to take any necessary action to ensure aviation safety across the country,” Garneau said, according to a copy of the statement obtained by Bloomberg. “Every decision will be supported by facts and scientific evidence with the utmost priority of ensuring safety.”

The minister is scheduled to speak to reporters Wednesday in Ottawa. The 737 Max is used by the country’s two major carriers, Air Canada and WestJet Airlines Ltd. Shares of both companies declined Tuesday, with Air Canada canceling two transatlantic flights after European regulators suspended use of the aircraft.

Canada isn’t alone, however. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reiterated late Tuesday that it sees no safety issue with Boeing’s beleaguered new model.

To contact the reporter on this story: Josh Wingrove in Ottawa at jwingrove4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Theophilos Argitis at targitis@bloomberg.net, Stephen Wicary, Chris Fournier

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