Unsolicited offer to move ICAO from Montreal to Qatar . . .

[bizjets101]

Toronto Star

Qatar faces an uphill battle to persuade 115 of the agency’s 191 member states to back its bid when it comes to a vote in the fall. The Qataris’ major arguments seem to be that Montreal is cold in the winter, too far from Europe and Asia, and has high taxes. They are also waving a bundle of cash by way of a tax exemption for agency personnel to sweeten their bid.

[bmc]

Not an uphill battle. Doha is ok. Qatar is sitting under the largest untapped natural gas reserves on the planet. They have the bucks to make a very sweet deal for this. As for night life, Qatar is getting there. Lots of live music and things to do in Doha. Life in the Gulf is nice. We did it for three years. I would do it again. At this stage in my life, I would take gulf weather and medical care over Montreal, despite being originally from Montreal.

As for political support from other countries, that could very well line up behind Qatar. The difference here is Qatar sees value and opportunity in being a world player and the world sees it.

[Colonel Sanders]

My vote for ICAO's location would be the back side
of the moon. One way tickets for the bureaucrats,
and no communication possible.

No taxes on the moon!

[Panama Jack]

I also predict that Doha's bid (bribe offer?) for ICAO to relocate will be unsuccessful.

But then, I should probably check to see how my foot will fit in my mouth.

[Old fella]

Not an uphill battle. Doha is ok. Qatar is sitting under the largest untapped natural gas reserves on the planet. They have the bucks to make a very sweet deal for this. As for night life, Qatar is getting there. Lots of live music and things to do in Doha. Life in the Gulf is nice. We did it for three years. I would do it again. At this stage in my life, I would take gulf weather and medical care over Montreal, despite being originally from Montreal.

As for political support from other countries, that could very well line up behind Qatar. The difference here is Qatar sees value and opportunity in being a world player and the world sees it.

My better half who is in the medical profession had a co-worker whose younger members(also in medical profession) did a stint in Qatar and from what was said - they were impressed. Life was positive(during their time there) that what we here would think it would be. These young medical professionals were paid quite well and were respected.......

[azimuthaviation]

Thats because the move has everything to do with Harper and how he snubbed the UN for many years for the sake of Israel. Baird himself acknowledged that fact last week when he went to Montreal to speak about his campaign to keep ICAO there. And it is not just a bureauracy, there are 120 million dollars in spin off revenue from having it there as well as hundreds if not thousands of jobs tied to that office. Harper has to realise that his arrogance and self righteousness will have a direct negative impact on Canadians and this will be his legacy.

[bmc]

Thats because the move has everything to do with Harper and how he snubbed the UN for many years for the sake of Israel. Baird himself acknowledged that fact last week when he went to Montreal to speak about his campaign to keep ICAO there. And it is not just a bureauracy, there are 120 million dollars in spin off revenue from having it there as well as hundreds if not thousands of jobs tied to that office. Harper has to realise that his arrogance and self righteousness will have a direct negative impact on Canadians and this will be his legacy.

I couldn't have said it better.

[Panama Jack]

Ok, part of my post (and Col. Sanders's) were edited by the mods but I see it only took 3 posts.

[Old fella]

Thats because the move has everything to do with Harper and how he snubbed the UN for many years for the sake of Israel. Baird himself acknowledged that fact last week when he went to Montreal to speak about his campaign to keep ICAO there. And it is not just a bureauracy, there are 120 million dollars in spin off revenue from having it there as well as hundreds if not thousands of jobs tied to that office. Harper has to realise that his arrogance and self righteousness will have a direct negative impact on Canadians and this will be his legacy.

Personally, I will be surprised if the move does indeed happen - then again you never can bet on anything with the UN. What will be very interesting to see will be the actual vote count. If it is significant and I suspect it will albeit not enough for the move then it will be considered as Canada getting the back of the hand from UN member countries. The reasons for the slap-down are the exact ones noted in azimuthaviation commentary – so very true.

[mcrit]

Thats because the move has everything to do with Harper and how he snubbed the UN for many years for the sake of Israel. Baird himself acknowledged that fact last week when he went to Montreal to speak about his campaign to keep ICAO there. And it is not just a bureauracy, there are 120 million dollars in spin off revenue from having it there as well as hundreds if not thousands of jobs tied to that office. Harper has to realise that his arrogance and self righteousness will have a direct negative impact on Canadians and this will be his legacy.

No No. It is all the fault of PET's ghost.......

[Scout44]

And crisis averted...

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2 ... baird.html

[Siddley Hawker]

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/05/04/frum-2/

As nothing-burger stories go, this one is a Whopper.
Let’s remember, please, that two years ago Singapore made a bid to host the ICAO. Singapore is a true aviation hub, unlike Qatar. Yet Singapore’s bid went nowhere. The ICAO Council — its functional board of directors — is heavily tilted to major aviation nations, almost all of which want to leave the ICAO where it is.

[bmc]

...and Montreal is a major hub? For Air Canada. Maybe Air Creebec.

In terms of passengers, Dorval saw 13 million in 2012, and Do-hole saw 18 million.

40 airlines at Trudeau, 33 in Doha. More international airlines ar DOH.

I don't think hub is a valid argument.

[Expat]

...and Montreal is a major hub? For Air Canada. Maybe Air Creebec.

In terms of passengers, Dorval saw 13 million in 2012, and Do-hole saw 18 million.

40 airlines at Trudeau, 33 in Doha. More international airlines ar DOH.

I don't think hub is a valid argument.

Me think it is only a diversion. Let's wait and see if Qatar Airways starts flying A 380s to YUL. Baird solved two crisis, but there has to be a trade-off somewhere.

[photofly]

This is from Paul Danahar, of the BBC. He was writing about Qatari meddling in Syria, but it's equally applicable to Qatari meddling in the ICAO:

Qatar is more complicated. Nobody really understands the minutiae of the Qatari foreign policy - perhaps not even the Qataris. Small nations like to feel important and they like to have bigger friends.

The Qataris are a tiny nation with lots of money. They are looking at the post-Arab Spring Middle East as a giant tombola, they are using their vast wealth to buy up as many of the lottery tickets on offer as possible because they just want to win something, somewhere.

They might end up with a prize that is nowhere near what they paid for it - but it will be theirs. It is the winning - not necessarily the quality of the prize - that counts.

Qatar wants to have lots of grateful friends once the turmoil in the region is over who will hopefully look after them in the future.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22456875

[bmc]

...and Montreal is a major hub? For Air Canada. Maybe Air Creebec.

In terms of passengers, Dorval saw 13 million in 2012, and Do-hole saw 18 million.

40 airlines at Trudeau, 33 in Doha. More international airlines ar DOH.

I don't think hub is a valid argument.

Me think it is only a diversion. Let's wait and see if Qatar Airways starts flying A 380s to YUL. Baird solved two crisis, but there has to be a trade-off somewhere.

Bingo! You've nailed it head on. The Al Thani's aren't dummies. I'm sure that's exactly the ploy here.

[bob sacamano]

Keep the T7 there and lets see the 380s in YYZ.

[azimuthaviation]

they are using their vast wealth to buy up as many of the lottery tickets on offer as possible because they just want to win something, somewhere.

They might end up with a prize that is nowhere near what they paid for it - but it will be theirs. It is the winning - not necessarily the quality of the prize - that counts.

Qatar just eliminated Lebanon from world cup qualification with a 1-0 game, scored by "Qatari" Andres Sebastian Soria. YOu might think FIFA would not allow players to sell their nationality (let alone their birth year as Soria did so he could play in Qatars U-23 team) but Qatar also bought FIFA.

FIFA's bribery scandal spread Monday beyond allegations about the presidential election to include the selection of Qatar as the 2022 World Cup host, with evidence that FIFA's second in command suggested the desert nation had "bought" the right to host the world's biggest single-sport event.