Rosbif,
And what Canadian operator should be supplying these services to Air Canada? A fantasy 747 operator (Service Air/Titan Air), a DC10 operator (ACE)?
The MD11 is a great aircraft for this run. 200K payload and a great fuel burn. The DC10 wont get you the payload required on a transpacific run, and the 747-200 fuel burn makes it less economical to operate versus the MD11.
Obviously it's not fair to make Air Canada use the wrong aircraft for the job just because it's Canadian... Wait a sec, the government already does that by blocking out American satellite TV providers (but that's another battle).
If there were a Canadian MD11 operator they would have the business as the CTA would not grant the rights to Gemini/World/etc.
Let's say this was trucking and I needed a 5 ton, but my only local options were a 53' tractor or a minivan. Should I have to settle on one of those because they're Canadian or do I have the rights to search out the correct tool for the job.