According to this week's FI, talks between the US and Canada are expected to provide an impetus to kick-start talks with the US.
http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...pen+skies.html
Canada expects t/a traffic to almost double by 2011 if an Open Skies deal is done; there is certainly considerable potential to grow, when you consider the likes of Zoom, which could benefit immensely, and also some very antiquated bilaterals, like those with Ireland, could be swept away.
The one thing that confuses me about this article is that the EU is unlikely to ask for anything silly from the Canadians, i.e. the right to buy into Canadian airlines or indeed, cabotage on Canadian domestic routes, so it seems that all the EU is doing is learning from its experience with the US and if it can bring the same conditions to bear with the US, then all the better. As far as I can see, the deal EU
SHOULD want is already on the table.