Cleared for the arrival

[Oscar]

Another YVR question....

Is there a reason why when approaching BOOTH going into YVR or YYJ, the center controller always seem to clear you for the arrival filed in your flight plan?

"XXXX cleared the Canuck 3, Rwy 08L, descend to XXXXX"

I never get "cleared" for the arrival in YYC, YEG, YWG, YYZ etc. We just fly the arrival that we filed for a specific runway, as advertised on the ATIS, usually mentioned by the controller.

"XXXX plan 17R, ATIS S, descend to XXXXX"

[altiplano]

Maybe old habits? I think we used to always just flight plan to booth for example and get cleared an arrival and it changed somewhere along the line to file the arrival. ..

My memory on the topic is faint though.

[hydro]

How does it work internationally, or in East Asia?

We don't clear for the arrival here in YYZ, but every once in awhile an Asian carrier asks "are we cleared the XXX arrival?