US Carriers to operate Domestically in Canada?

[Willie Everlearn]

With the impending Air Canada Pilot Strike looming on the horizon...
our wonderful Canadian Government has 'threatened' to protect the Canadian consumer by allowing American carriers to operate within Canada on Domestic routes.
ie: YYZ-YVR, YYC-YUL
Holey Moley!!! http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif
At this point, of course, it's all posturing on the part of Prime Minister "Do-Little" and his cabinet of "hackers".
I, for one, don't hesitate to believe that this would be just the kind of stupidity the Liberals would come up with as a solution to a One (World) Airline only in Canada. A problem THEY created in the first place.
Is there anything we pilots, as a collective group, both Union and Non-Union, can do to prevent such a blatently stupid action on the part of our 'lame-duck government' if they were to take such action in the event that Air Canada pilots strike next week??? :rolleyes:
If you look back at the 1989 Pilot strike in Australia, the stage is set for history to repeat itself. Only this time in fantasyland (Canada).
Is that what you want?


------------------
Lord of the Flies

[yahooair]

hhmmm....do you really think this kind of stupidities can happen here?Where did you hear that?And where can I check up on this?If It does, there will be alot of angry pilots in Canada.If the P.M. were to do so, there had better be alot to our advantages ie: free green cards to all Canadian pilots on demand , pay only american taxes, and so forth....think of the most outragious things and maybe I'll accept having 1 American, and one only open up routes here.Gotta give alot to receive a little. :)
If we cant go to the States for free....they shouldnt be able to come here and take our routes and our jobs.Personally I think its alot of B.S. Find me the article !!

[Petergozinya]

Neverhappen. Not on such short term notice. True, there would be gate space, but thats about all. Equipment is currently scheduled so tightly, existing (passengers who bought tickets) flights would have to be canceled to add any new service north of the border. Even if it did happen, what would happen the day after the strike was over? Uh, excuse me UAL, DAL, and AA, get your airplanes out of here pronto. BTW thanks for bailing us out..... posturing, and chest beating. Thats all it ammounts to. :)

[been-dair-done-dat]

I have to agree ... nothing this magnitude comes fast.

[Willie Everlearn]

It would be great to think it would never happen in Canada. But, there's one thing I've learned in this business...
and that is, never say never.
And don't trust a Canadian politician! Especially, Cretien.

I was watching CTV News Net (credible source?) the end of last week regarding the recent 'break down' in talks between AC, the Gov't, and a mediator.
During their newscast of this story, they said (or let's say, reported) the Canadian Government was 'prepared' to allow US carriers to serve destinations 'within' Canada if there were to be a strike.

I have NO idea what that means. Probably just government 'bafflegab', but the way I would interpret it is this.
1) No air service in Canada during an AC pilot strike would hurt them politically. (The remaining players, C3, TS etc. couldn't fill the bill. They're busy makin' money)
2) An Air Canada strike would be 'devistating' politically for Prime Minister Do-Little approaching an election year. :)
3) So, they're 'considering' allowing US carriers to pick up some of the slack a strike would cause especially since they've allowed AC a monopoly (and they've got pilot shortages down there as well. But make no mistake, the yanks know how to make a buck and would likely jump at the opportunity.)
4) The Canadian pax wouldn't and doesn't care how he gets from point A to point B. As long as he gets there.

Hearing this comment at the end of last week, to me at least, simply means if push comes to shove the gov't WILL allow this to happen. So, you'd better be prepared.

It's an opportunity on this forum to pass the info along so you can check it out for yourselves. Maybe dig out papers from last Thursday or Friday. Whatever. But, check it out indeed.

[This message has been edited by Willie Everlearn (edited 23 August 2000).]

[G-OOFY]

Don't let them in boys you know they won't want to leave....

[Petergozinya]

This garbage is nothing but a bunch of fear grenades. Political suicide for any official allowing this to happen. It'll be interesting to see if AC pilots take the mediatiors deal.

[Rollingthunder]

Looking at canadian aviation history, as late as 1966 CP was limited to one trans canada flight, each way a day. Legislated to do so in favour of the crown corp airline.In the meantime, they proved routes to Asia and the South Pacific that the competition either couldn't or wouldn't do. They struggled with that kind of uneven playing field for the next 34 years, ending in........

Want to destroy the Canadian airline industry? Let the Americans in without full reciprocal cabotage rights.

The Americans would, however, never come in the event of a strike, logistically impossible in the short term and then only on cherry-picked routes.

I hope it turns out nice again.

[This message has been edited by Rollingthunder (edited 30 August 2000).]

[Squawk 8888]

Would be nice for the passengers to see a reciprocal deal- Air Canada is strong enough to play with the big boys and the yanks will keep 'em more honest than all the politicos and regulators could ever dream of. Competition is really the only way to go- one look a the cable TV industry shows how regulated monopolies inevitably bend over backwards to please the bureaucrats while screwing the paying customers.

Too bad it won't happen, though. Unions still wield a lot of political power (thanks to the use of forced union dues to buy politicians) and the only thing trade unionists hate more than honest competition is honest foreign competition- just look at the way Buzz Hargrove freaked out when AC chose the A330 over the 777.

[ASLr]

U.S ALPA pilots would never fly the routes if a strike were in progress even if they had the capacity, which they don't.

[Petergozinya]

Squack 8888, how interesting. How would you feel if the canadian government invited software developers from, oh lets say India, China, or Timbuktoo,... ah nevermind.

[Squawk 8888]

How would you feel if the canadian government invited software developers from, oh lets say India, China, or Timbuktoo,... ah nevermind.

Already happening. Trouble is we can't keep 'em here because the taxes are so damn high that most of us are moving to the US.

[Willie Everlearn]

Now that ACPA have 'agreed' to an arbitrater's recommendations...
Everyone can get some rest!
:)
Let's just say "Thank Gawd" any potential for 'foreign' operators in Canada is history. At least for now.

I hope every licenced pilot in Canada has his/her head up in the future. So that any opportunity for this kind of solution to our airline woes will never happen. And believe me, if it meant saving their political a**es, they'd do it!!!

Over

[in limbo]

In light of United Airlines new contract do you still think that AC pilots are going to be happy for long?

[Petergozinya]

Why are you canadians soooo passive with regards to the taxes you all pay?

I have relatives in Canada that bitch constantly about the taxes, yet not one seems to think of calling on their elected officials to do anything about it. Is Canada hopelessly a socialistic nation? That kind of dependancy is self destructive, don't you think?

[Squawk 8888]

I have relatives in Canada that bitch constantly about the taxes, yet not one seems to think of calling on their elected officials to do anything about it. Is Canada hopelessly a socialistic nation?

Afraid so. The centre has shifted so far here that the politicians who are branded as "radical right-wing" all support the state-run health care monopoly, the state-run broadcaster, broadcast censorship an compulsory union membership. They also support the laws that jail farmers for choosing who buys their crop. When the lefties take power it's even worse- back in the early 90s Ontario forced employers to hire by race.