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 province announced Tuesday it will file a lawsuit in Quebec Superior Court on the grounds the carrier is obligated to keep its maintenance services in Montreal, in accordance with a1988 federal law.

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

The company’s 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 workers staged a march in downtown Montreal on Tuesday morning, joined by former Liberal leader Stéphane Dion. The workers were headed for the private residence of Air Canada board member Pierre Marc Johnson.