Dubble;
After earning your wings you may be flying anything from the Griffon Helicopter to a CF-18. For your career aspirations to become an airline pilot you need to fly a large multi-engine aircraft.
Etihad and every other carrier in the middle east want jet time.
Currently for the A320 position their minimum requirement is 1000 hours multi-crew glass cockpit jet time.
In the CF out of flying school your two first three year tours will be at best on the C-130 Hercules which is not a jet but a multi turbine. You will probably have built up around 800 hours on the Herc in those six years. After those two tours you will most likely get a ground tour in a staff position. During those three years you will try to get onto the large heavy jet's the C-17 or the A310 for your next three year tour. To become attractive to Etihad at their current requirements you will probably have put about 15 years into the CF. At this time you will be an experienced Air Force aircrfat commander and the thought of being a juniour F/O on an A320 might not be appealing. Also you can sort of take your CF pension into Air Canada. Most of my CF friends do their 20 years get a nice pension then go looking for airline jobs.
I hope this helps,