CayMan From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 811 posts, RR: 7 Posted (3 months 19 hours ago) and read 3165 times:
With the Canadian election now almost a certainty, it will be interesting to see what aircraft the party leaders charter.
For benefit of our foreign friends, it might surprise you to learn that our Canadian elections are only (a lightning fast) 6 weeks long and are called when the Prime Minister decides that he or she wants to dissolve parliament and go to the polls. That means there is sometimes very little advance time to prep for a campaign, and it looks like the current PM is about to pull the plug,
With that in mind it will be interesting to see which a/c are chartered. Last election, it was juicy irony that the so-called environmental party the Liberals chartered an ancient 727-200, which apparently burned fuel at more than twice the burn rate than the narrow body Airbuses that the other parties had. I would wager the Libs will not make that mistake again. Even aviation ignorant reporters were aware the last time that they were on 1970s era airplane for the Liberals.
Anyway I would certainly expect the AC and or Westjet will happily supply A320s or 737s to the major parties. I would think this is already arranged somebody probably knows something.
CayMan From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 811 posts, RR: 7 Reply 2, posted (3 months 18 hours ago) and read 3120 times:
Quoting Sebring (Reply 1): There are lots of airlines that could fly the Liberals - SkyService, Sunwing, Westjet, CanJet...
Wasn't it Canjet that chartered the 727 to them 3 years ago? It would be a surprise if they chartered that again. Then again, they are really pressed for cash so maybe the lowest bid wins.
YXXMIKE From Canada, joined Apr 2008, 81 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (3 months 18 hours ago) and read 3105 times:
Quoting CayMan (Reply 2): Wasn't it Canjet that chartered the 727 to them 3 years ago? It would be a surprise if they chartered that again. Then again, they are really pressed for cash so maybe the lowest bid wins.
That's correct, we did the Paul Martin campaign here at YVR and it was the nice yet old looking 727. I would suspect if they go with CanJet again it will hopefully be the 737! Another possibility if they have the aircraft would be Flair (the Kelowna Flight Craft division)
Q120 From Canada, joined Aug 2008, 46 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 months 15 hours ago) and read 2957 times:
Its a long story as to why the Liberals flew with Starjet (AKA Cargojet) I worked for them during this time. We sorta knew why the Liberals were flying with us, but nothing was actually ever said. Mr. Paul Martin walked right by me as I pushed the stairs up to the aircraft when it flew into YHM. Then after I boarded the aircraft with the security watching my ever move... which was interesting. But I do remember the article very well... 727 vs A320... getting those Liberal stickers off the aircraft took me all day!
AFGMEL From Australia, joined Jul 2007, 362 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (3 months 14 hours ago) and read 2920 times:
Quoting CayMan (Thread starter): For benefit of our foreign friends, it might surprise you to learn that our Canadian elections are only (a lightning fast) 6 weeks
Brilondon From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 877 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (3 months 4 hours ago) and read 2808 times:
Quoting CayMan (Thread starter): For benefit of our foreign friends, it might surprise you to learn that our Canadian elections are only (a lightning fast) 6 weeks long
In the democracies of the world I believe that 6 weeks is about the norm. In the U.S.A. they seem to always be in an election, whether it is for dog catcher or president. Judging by the present one, president that is, the qualifications seem to be the same.
Life is a highway, I just can't find the on ramp. Cheers!
EXAAUADL From United States, joined Jun 2006, 3437 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 months 4 hours ago) and read 2803 times:
Does the PM have his own special plane? When parliment is dissolved, it the PM still technically part of the govt or for the election purposese not? Is thta why Harper wont use official Canadian govt aircraft like Air Force 1?
I think the conservatives will be returned ot a minority govt. They will lose seats in ON due to the too strong loonie but will pick up more seats in QB. The BQ could fall to under 40 seats. The rest of the country will remain status quo. I doubt the Greens do as well on election day as the polls suggest as the NDP is the natural GREEN party.
Sebring From Canada, joined Jul 2004, 1372 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (3 months 2 hours ago) and read 2758 times:
Quoting EXAAUADL (Reply 10): Does the PM have his own special plane? When parliment is dissolved, it the PM still technically part of the govt or for the election purposese not? Is thta why Harper wont use official Canadian govt aircraft like Air Force 1?
He cannot use government aircraft, and I'm not sure there is anything appropriate to haul around his entourage and media. The government and military fleets are composed of executive jets and then A310s and MD-17s. There is nothing of the size of an A320 or 737NG.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 7102 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (3 months ago) and read 2730 times:
Quoting Sebring (Reply 11): Quoting EXAAUADL (Reply 10):
Does the PM have his own special plane? When parliment is dissolved, it the PM still technically part of the govt or for the election purposese not? Is thta why Harper wont use official Canadian govt aircraft like Air Force 1?
He cannot use government aircraft, and I'm not sure there is anything appropriate to haul around his entourage and media. The government and military fleets are composed of executive jets and then A310s and MD-17s. There is nothing of the size of an A320 or 737NG.
As far as I know they can only use government aircraft when on government business. That doesn't include election campaigns.
Brilondon From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 877 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (2 months 4 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2595 times:
Quoting EXAAUADL (Reply 10): Does the PM have his own special plane? When parliment is dissolved, it the PM still technically part of the govt or for the election purposese not? Is thta why Harper wont use official Canadian govt aircraft like Air Force 1?
The PM is flown around in a Canadian Forces Plane, usually a modified A310 but he also has been known yo use a Challenger Biz jet. There is no dedicated aircraft though.
For elections the parties lease aircraft for their leaders.
Life is a highway, I just can't find the on ramp. Cheers!
CayMan From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 811 posts, RR: 7 Reply 14, posted (2 months 4 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2516 times:
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 12): As far as I know they can only use government aircraft when on government business. That doesn't include election campaigns
I think actually the PM uses government aircraft for any travel, government or private, however the exceptuion being election campaigns where the parties charter dedicated aircraft for that purpose. THE PM never flies commercial or on private charters.
Xtoler From United States, joined Sep 2007, 877 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (2 months 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 2501 times:
Quoting Brilondon (Reply 9): In the U.S.A. they seem to always be in an election, whether it is for dog catcher or president. Judging by the present one, president that is, the qualifications seem to be the same.
Hey, dude, don't be insulting our dog catchers like that!!!
Always interesting to see how ya'll operate in the Great White North there. Now if only we could get our own people to be interested in what's going on around them.
Certainly, there wouldn't be anymore 72's flying around would there? That would be cool, and always great to see fly, but if anyone is able to get any pix of the new (if there are any) aircraft the candidates are using that would be cool. Which reminds me, I haven't seen too many pictures of our candidates aircraft. I think they are both using 75's from National?
EMB145 F/A, F/E, J41 F/A, F/E, because my wife clipped my wings, armchair captain
Spotter From Canada, joined Nov 2001, 77 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (2 months 4 weeks 1 day ago) and read 2479 times:
Well I actually worked on the aircraft last night. The large AC decals on the side of the fuselage were taken off and being replaced with party decals(conservative and NDP). The 2 aircraft are 319's, fins 282, and 283. They were are been washed and deep cleaned inside but no real changes to the interiors.
JR
Scrumpy492003 From Canada, joined Jul 2007, 123 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (2 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2405 times:
Now, The Green Party will walk, to save on carbon emmissions!!
The NDP should.
The Bloc don't have to, a bus would suffice!!
The Liberals have just changed their energy plan to permit the flying of aircraft during the election campaign - this was only done last week, with a different headline !!!
The Conservatives can do anything that they please,
BUT
Seriously,
I would expect the Prime Minister's Aircraft to be fitted with extra "military Communications stuff, and secure at that, because he is still The Prime Minister until the day after the election, so IF a crisis did come up, he would be able to deal with stuff immediately.
YYCowboy From Canada, joined Aug 2006, 95 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (2 months 4 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2386 times:
News today said Stephanie Dijon is takin the bus for awhile. They don't have much money or an aircraft secured yet, hows that for forward thinking. That dude creeps me out, no leadership qualities at all, I expect him to break out in tears most of the time. Don't get me going on his English skills or shifting green plan, he sounds like a neutered puppy. I expect they will sink to 3rd place and Harper will have a slim majority. The PM remains in power longer than 1 day after the election. If he loses, there will be a transition term whilst a new cabinet is formed. If he wins, I think its seamless transition.
Its hard to soar like an eagle when you're flying with turkeys
Grge From Canada, joined Oct 2006, 10 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (2 months 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 2366 times:
The Liberals are getting an Air Inuit 737 according to the news report, though it won't be ready until the end of the week.
The Prime Minister is still the PM until he tenders his resignation to the Governor-General. Usually this will take place a week to ten days after an election, so that the winners have the time to form a Cabinet. Can't recall ever when the PM went over to Government House the morning after losing an election and resigned.
Brilondon From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 877 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (2 months 4 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2284 times:
Quoting Xtoler (Reply 15): Hey, dude, don't be insulting our dog catchers like that!!!
Sorry 'bout that. You're right of course dog catchers require many more qualifications then president.
Quoting YYCowboy (Reply 18): News today said Stephanie Dijon is taking the bus for awhile. They don't have much money or an aircraft secured yet, hows that for forward thinking. That dude creeps me out, no leadership qualities at all,
I with you here. Dijon is going to sink the liberals worse then Johnny Crouton did.
Life is a highway, I just can't find the on ramp. Cheers!
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