Energie :
Since no one seems to be helping I'll give it a shot !
Disclaimer : not canajan and basing answers on friends testimony.....
SOs cannot take permanent base.
SOs can take temp basings but no guarentee and YVR very hard to get but pilots commute from LA SFO. Can get 2,3,or 4 month temp bases. Bid in seniority and availability (company decides how many are needed)
time from joining to JFO is 41/2 - 5 years. JFO can take permanent base when base (of a/c type) available in seniority. Bases are filling up. YVR base will not grow but LA and SFO may do when 777 intro if frequency of flights increased. Bases will have turnover during expansion as FOs do command. Will stop for a long time if expansion stops. Vancouver may be last to change to 777 as -400 fits route all year. If on 777 and yvr still 400 ,permanent base no chance as not taking 777 pilots across 400 to anymore (not likely to change as 777 need will be high for awhile) . As for abseolute number of FOs in yvr that is top secret !! There is currently 744 and airbus in yvr. When airbus stops who knows ? Also the company uses yvr guys for LAX/SFO when needed so it is not a finite number. As for openings there were 12 ish earlier this year and that will reduce to 5 or six per year.
You can easily commute from a permanent LAX 0r SFO base to yvr.
FO hong kong based on 777 works 18-22 days per month (average) but do some day trips.
YVR FOs work 12-16 days and can do yvr-jfk alot.
typical month 2 LH (yvr HKG) and one jfk or 3 jfks and one LH.
Hope this helps.
FG