What a bunch of tosh.
When AC needs a DC 10 they call ACE and then ACE tries to get one going. Transport then drag their feet until AC have an excuse to go somewhere else for the lift. They then need an MD 11, and before anyone in Canada has the opportunity to lease one and then get it approved, in comes World with one ready to go.
It seems strange to me that AC always has a requirement for whichever aircraft is not available in Canada and then changes its requirement if the aircraft does become available.
It is also not a coincidence that World is run by someone very close to AC. (if memory serves me correctly)
Whether the cargo work really comes back to AC's 777"s remains to be seen. If AC can continue to get away with using cheaper US based subcontractors, they will apply for extensions and drag it out for as long as they possibly can. If a Canadian subcontractor puts out a bid with a suitable aircraft, AC will change the requirement at the last moment to something that no Canadian operator has.
That is how this game is played. It's all about getting the job done as cheaply as possible. That is why the Halifax 747 incident happened, and it is why our jobs are given away to whoever will do them cheapest.
The Canadian government is asleep at the wheel -as usual.