Married a Canadian, I'm getting a bit concerned about you agreeing with me again, this will only get you into trouble, suggest you go back to being an argumentative Brit! On a more serious note, most posters I think have not flown into parts of the world in which the ONLY thing which will be treated as an emergency is "Mayday "Nothing else will get the attention of some ATC units in certain parts of the world, I recall a friend of mine who had number four engine fall completely of the wing on take of, this in full view of the tower, BUT, until his F/O said the magic word they refused to give him priority to return and land, all ended well, but for those in ATC whose first language is not English, the magic word is a must!{that could by the way apply to the streets of Toronto these days methinks}