Canada, Australia, Emirates & Etihad: Case study of protectionism vs liberalism. Who’s got it right?

Last week the United Arab Emirates upped the ante in a battle over market access to Canada for its national airlines, Emirates and Etihad. By introducing the issue of Canada's military bases into the aviation bilateral argument, the UAE hardly used a new tactic in this age old and archaic industry. Aviation is so close to national economic interests that it raises all sorts of sensitivities which seem bizarre to outsiders - perhaps because they are exactly that.