Originally Posted by
digits_
There must be more to that story. Even today, if you operate a type that's approved for single pilot operations, the PIC does not need to hold an ATPL even when you operate multicrew. I think Pemiter/Bearskin had a couple of metros that were operated multi crew with captains without an ATPL, due to the certification of those airframes.
The problem is not the requirement by TC, as much as it's the requirement by provincial contracts.