Dubai: Canada need not fear job losses if it grants UAE airlines additional flights because this could contribute $60 million (Dh220 million) annually to the Canadian economy, UAE Minister of Economy Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri said Saturday.

Emirates airline has fiercely lobbied Ottawa to allow it to expand its three-days-a-week Toronto service. It also wants to fly to Calgary and Vancouver. Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways also wants to increase its flights.

So far, Ottawa has rejected these requests. Al Mansouri called this a contradiction to Canada's Blue Sky policy, designed to move people and goods easily to stimulate the economy.

"I'd like to challenge the Canadian statement that tens of thousands of jobs will be lost," Al Mansouri said. "It [more flights] will create more jobs." Emirates and Etihad flights could contribute $60 million annually to the Canadian economy, he said without elaborating on how this would be done.

Open skies

"Trade should be free, especially aviation. The UAE has open skies and any airline can use our airports," he said. "What we saw from Canada was protectionism. It doesn't go with current global trends."

He denied Canadian accusations that the UAE has used "any kind of blackmail" during the negotiations.

The UAE government was "wise" in addressing this issue but some statements by the Canadian side were "very fiery," he added.

Tensions escalated last month when the UAE ordered Canada to vacate a military base near Dubai which was used as a staging post for Canadian forces in Afghanistan.

"The UAE has exhausted talks for six years but with no results," Al Mansouri said. He emphasised the importance of UAE-Canada relationships.

The UAE was "surprised" by the situation after years of "special relations" with Canada, 27,000 Canadian workers in the UAE and trade worth $1.5 billion, he said. "We hope Canada recognises the importance of how the UAE, for nine years, provided the best services to 27,000 Canadians," he said.

He said the UAE wants daily flights to avoid the additional cost of accommodating crew for two nights on the current three trips.

Discussing challenges

More than 600 thinkers from 60 countries are gathering for the world's biggest brainstorming session in Dubai to find solutions to key global problems in a three-day World Economic Forum Global Agenda summit starting yesterday.

"The Summit on the Global Agenda is of critical relevance, especially as governments across the world today are at a cross-road in addressing various challenges following the global financial slowdown," said UAE economy minister and forum co-chair Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri at the pre-Summit press conference yesterday.

Experts from academia, business, government and civil society will represent 72 councils focusing on climate change, education, energy, security, China, innovation and logistics. They will discuss emerging trends, identify global risks, and develop ideas to address the world's challenges. There will be 30 representatives from the UAE.

"In today's globalised world, joint discussions and collaborative brainstorming sessions are the way forward to bring about concrete action and tangible results," he said. For the first time this year, the Summit will host an open forum to discuss issues on energy, urban planning, education and water security. The sessions are open to the public and will be held at the American University in Dubai.

The UAE will consider recommendations from the Global Agenda sessions, which will help it achieve its goals of Vision 2021, Al Mansouri said. Sami Dhaen Al Qamzi, co-chair of the forum and director-general of the Dubai Economic Department, said he hoped the summit would made Dubai the "launch-pad for new ideas and strategies" that will help achieve equitable progress for humanity.

What do you think of this? How much of an effect will this have on the Canadian economy? Would you travel to Canada if options were made easier?