Wow you guys really think that Air Canada is controlling the government in this country? Everyone seems to think that because Air Canada doesn't want them to have extra landing rights then the government just says "OK" and denies it? Give your heads a shake. If that was the case then BA, Air France, Cathay, China Airlines ect etc wouldn't have any flights to this country at all.
After all the people on this forum seem to think that Air Canada just has to whine a bit and the government does their bidding. Why allow any competition at all? There are alot of airlines that fly into Canada, fly to destinations that Air Canada doesn't serve, who aren't in the Star Alliance.
My comments about the union enviroment was simply to show that it is much easier to have a young, energized workforce when you can get rid of them when they get old or disgruntled. That is not an excuse, it's a fact. Its also a fact that the average traveller will remember a pretty 24yr old flight attendant over a 60 yr old flight attendant regardless of the service they get. AC's inflight service has improved by leaps and bounds the last 5-10 years and is miles better than a few complainers would want you to believe.
The article you reprinted is written by someone who obviously has alterior motives (have a look at the name of the author) or no idea idea of what is really happening in aviation in Canada. To just blindly accept that Emirates having up to 10 or 15 more flights a week to Canada will somehow create 1900 extra jobs and 26 million in taxes is a perfect example of how naive some people can be. Show me to proof. Break that down for us so we can see exactly where those 1900 jobs and all that money will come from. Numbers can be twisted to show whatever you want.