The Globe and Mail reports in its Saturday edition Air Canada is hoping to cut $50-million across the company in the current second quarter ahead of new competition. The Globe's Guy Dixon writes that in a memo to senior management, chief executive officer Calin Rovinescu outlined measures to be taken immediately, including a hiring freeze, stopping the use of consultants and further efforts to trim costs with suppliers. "While we have made good progress on controlling costs, the ground beneath us is shifting almost daily and the goalposts are moving with it," Mr. Rovinescu said in the memo. He noted: "The revenue environment has been and is expected to remain extremely challenging. We are facing intensifying competition competition and significant capacity additions" in key markets. Exceptions will be made only for new hires and consultants who are considered "mission critical," and the freeze does not apply to hiring new employees for the launch of Air Canada's new discount carrier, Rouge. Air Canada executives approved the $50-million cost-cutting target this week, which represents less that 2.5 per cent of the the airline's non-fuel costs for the quarter. The goal is to turn a profit in 2013.