Upcoming Federal Election in Canada
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Upcoming Federal Election in Canada
How many of you took the time to read the Globe and Mail today???
It wasn't that long ago (during the Air Canada Pilot contract negotiations this past summer) our Canadian Government said it 'would consider allowing foreign carriers to operate domestic service wihtin Canada'.
Well, it seems there are others in the Political arena who would do the same.
If you think you'd be interested in a flying career in Canada...or in preserving the one you have...
Better read this, before you cast your vote.
Day would let foreign lines fly domestic routes
Alliance proposes reciprocal deal to ensure competition for Air Canada
KEITH McARTHUR
TRANSPORTATION REPORTER
The Globe and Mail
Wednesday, November 8, 2000
Air Canada could face some tough new competition if Stockwell Day becomes Prime Minister after the Nov. 27 federal election.
The Canadian Alliance would allow foreign airlines to operate domestic flights in Canada, so long as Canadian carriers get similar rights in other countries, according to a policy document prepared by the party for Alliance candidates.
"We believe that a strong airline industry requires competition," Alliance transportation critic Jay Hill said yesterday. "This is a proposal to ensure competition."
Mr. Hill said an Alliance government would try to negotiate "liberalized Air Service" agreements with the United States and other foreign governments that would give foreign airlines "cabotage" rights to fly between points in Canada and vice versa. (The 1995 open-skies agreement between Canada and the United States applies to cross-border travel only.)
Mr. Hill said such agreements would help restore competition in the domestic market. Competition was lost when Air Canada acquired Canadian Airlines International Ltd. to gain control of 80 per cent of the domestic market.
The federal Competition Bureau and various consumer groups have also called on the federal government to allow foreign competition as the only way to address the competition gap.
But Liberal candidate and federal Transport Minister David Collenette says a Liberal government will only allow foreign carriers into Canada if Canadian carriers do not provide enough competition.
And to date, Mr. Collenette is satisfied with the number of new and expanding Canadian carriers -- Including CanJet Airlines, RootsAir and WestJet Airlines Ltd. -- rushing to fill the competition gap, according to his spokesman, Anthony Polci.
Mr. Polci said the Alliance platform "shows a lack of understanding of what the domestic air industry is all about in Canada."
He said foreign carriers would pick the plum routes -- such as Montreal-Toronto or Toronto-Calgary -- where there is already competition. Underserved markets like Iqaluit or Saskatoon would still have
insufficient competition, he said.
"The American carriers are . . . going to go for the cream -- which is on the major routes."
Air Canada spokeswoman Laura Cooke said the airline would welcome foreign competition so long as it had equal access to U.S. markets. In June, Air Canada president and chief executive officer Robert Milton
said "cabotage without reciprocity is simply sabotage for the Canadian economy." But Mr. Milton said Air Canada will not shy away from taking on U.S. carriers on their own turf if it gets the chance.
But some observers question whether the U.S. government would ever agree to allowing Canadian carriers to operate domestic flights within the United States.
Joe Clark's Progressive Conservative Party would consider allowing foreign competition if Canadian carriers do not provide sufficient competition, a spokesman said.
A spokesman for the Bloc Québéquois said foreign competition would not help smaller markets in Quebec.
Instead, the Bloc would help regional airlines in Quebec to compete more effectively.
NDP officials did not return calls yesterday.
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Lord of the Flies
It wasn't that long ago (during the Air Canada Pilot contract negotiations this past summer) our Canadian Government said it 'would consider allowing foreign carriers to operate domestic service wihtin Canada'.
Well, it seems there are others in the Political arena who would do the same.
If you think you'd be interested in a flying career in Canada...or in preserving the one you have...
Better read this, before you cast your vote.
Day would let foreign lines fly domestic routes
Alliance proposes reciprocal deal to ensure competition for Air Canada
KEITH McARTHUR
TRANSPORTATION REPORTER
The Globe and Mail
Wednesday, November 8, 2000
Air Canada could face some tough new competition if Stockwell Day becomes Prime Minister after the Nov. 27 federal election.
The Canadian Alliance would allow foreign airlines to operate domestic flights in Canada, so long as Canadian carriers get similar rights in other countries, according to a policy document prepared by the party for Alliance candidates.
"We believe that a strong airline industry requires competition," Alliance transportation critic Jay Hill said yesterday. "This is a proposal to ensure competition."
Mr. Hill said an Alliance government would try to negotiate "liberalized Air Service" agreements with the United States and other foreign governments that would give foreign airlines "cabotage" rights to fly between points in Canada and vice versa. (The 1995 open-skies agreement between Canada and the United States applies to cross-border travel only.)
Mr. Hill said such agreements would help restore competition in the domestic market. Competition was lost when Air Canada acquired Canadian Airlines International Ltd. to gain control of 80 per cent of the domestic market.
The federal Competition Bureau and various consumer groups have also called on the federal government to allow foreign competition as the only way to address the competition gap.
But Liberal candidate and federal Transport Minister David Collenette says a Liberal government will only allow foreign carriers into Canada if Canadian carriers do not provide enough competition.
And to date, Mr. Collenette is satisfied with the number of new and expanding Canadian carriers -- Including CanJet Airlines, RootsAir and WestJet Airlines Ltd. -- rushing to fill the competition gap, according to his spokesman, Anthony Polci.
Mr. Polci said the Alliance platform "shows a lack of understanding of what the domestic air industry is all about in Canada."
He said foreign carriers would pick the plum routes -- such as Montreal-Toronto or Toronto-Calgary -- where there is already competition. Underserved markets like Iqaluit or Saskatoon would still have
insufficient competition, he said.
"The American carriers are . . . going to go for the cream -- which is on the major routes."
Air Canada spokeswoman Laura Cooke said the airline would welcome foreign competition so long as it had equal access to U.S. markets. In June, Air Canada president and chief executive officer Robert Milton
said "cabotage without reciprocity is simply sabotage for the Canadian economy." But Mr. Milton said Air Canada will not shy away from taking on U.S. carriers on their own turf if it gets the chance.
But some observers question whether the U.S. government would ever agree to allowing Canadian carriers to operate domestic flights within the United States.
Joe Clark's Progressive Conservative Party would consider allowing foreign competition if Canadian carriers do not provide sufficient competition, a spokesman said.
A spokesman for the Bloc Québéquois said foreign competition would not help smaller markets in Quebec.
Instead, the Bloc would help regional airlines in Quebec to compete more effectively.
NDP officials did not return calls yesterday.
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Lord of the Flies
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You can always rely on 'good ol' Canadian apathy' to display the copius quantity of concern for the future by reading the numerous comments contained in this thread.
I guess we'll just have to wait until Canadian Aviation takes an even worse turn for pilots futures than is at present.
Keep the blue side up!
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Lord of the Flies
I guess we'll just have to wait until Canadian Aviation takes an even worse turn for pilots futures than is at present.
Keep the blue side up!
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Lord of the Flies
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I wish they would just stay out of the issue entirely, the only thing they seem able to do for Canadian Aviation is screw it up, over and over again. Doesn't really matter who gets in, they are all rank amateurs playing cheap political games with aviation in this country.There is no appropriate professional expertise in the whole mess of them.How's that for apathy?
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I don't think we have to worry about their comments. Politicians have a habit of blabbering anything to get voters' attention.
These guys will promise you the world to get into Parliament. Remember Chretien's NO GST bull!!!!, well you can expect the same thing with Day, Clark, Chretien or whoever the hell
has an opinion or promise.
These guys will promise you the world to get into Parliament. Remember Chretien's NO GST bull!!!!, well you can expect the same thing with Day, Clark, Chretien or whoever the hell
has an opinion or promise.
