Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he will press the U.S. government on the so-called "Buy American" clause when he visits Washington this week, including a provision that has wreaked havoc on Canadian NHL teams.
Canada's six NHL teams have been scrambling to find alternative travel routes since it was announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation was banning Canadian charter planes from flying between two U.S. cities.
Not the most serious issue facing the US and Canada. And the ban has been caused because the teams did not follow the rules set down that only players could be transported between two US points, a process called cabotage, not generally permitted by non-US carriers but Canadian NHL teams had an exemption that they allegedly abused. The issue should be fought out in the courts, not between heads of government.
I think he's more concerned with the 'Buy American' clause than he is with the cabotage issue. However, the cabotage issue is front and centre right now because just about every airline in the world is in the red right now. Why should it be that only Air Canada or Westjet gets screwed?
Not the most serious issue facing the US and Canada. And the ban has been caused because the teams did not follow the rules set down that only players could be transported between two US points, a process called cabotage, not generally permitted by non-US carriers but Canadian NHL teams had an exemption that they allegedly abused. The issue should be fought out in the courts, not between heads of government.