LGT ACFT CLRED FOR DSCNT WITH MAX SPD OF 300 KTS. UPON SWITCHING TO NEW CTLR OUT OF 20000 FT; FLC CLRED FOR EXPEDITED DSCNT TO 6000 FT AND SPD RESTR LIFTED. HAVING FLOWN OUT OF CANADA AND NOT HAVING SPD RESTR DURING CLB ABOVE 3000 FT; CAPT ASSUMED THE SAME RULE APPLIED FOR DSCNT. CTLR INTERVENED TO ADVISE FLC OF SPD RESTR OF 250 KTS BELOW 10000 FT.

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DURING DSCNT FROM FL330; OUR SPD WAS RESTR TO .80 MACH UNTIL REACHING 300 KTS. WE WERE ALSO INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN FL200. AFTER LEVELING AT FL200; WE WERE GIVEN DSCNT CLRNC TO 6000 FT AT APPROX 40 MI FROM YMX; SPD OUR DISCRETION. I ACCELERATED TO 335 KIAS; AND ANNOUNCED MY INTENTION TO ACCELERATE AND DSND ACCORDING TO ICAO RULES. DSNDING THROUGH 8000 FT; ARRS MADE A COMMENT ABOUT SPD; WHICH WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND. WE ASKED HIM TO REPEAT; AND HE SAID HE 'COULD NOT WAIVE THE 250 KT RESTR.' I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED TO 250 KIAS. I HAD REVIEWED CANADIAN PROCS BEFORE THE FLT; BUT DID NOT REVIEW THEM BEFORE DSCNT. MY PREVIOUS TRIP HAD BEEN TO THE CARIBBEAN AND I CONFUSED CANADIAN DSCNT SPD RESTRS WITH ICAO RULES. HAVING BEEN AWAKE ALL NIGHT; I SHOULD HAVE REVIEWED PROCS JUST BEFORE I NEEDED THEM. MY CREW WAS TIRED ALSO AND DIDN'T THINK TO QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT MY INTENTIONS FOR DSCNT WERE APPROPRIATE. AS AN INFREQUENT VISITOR TO CANADA; I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CONSERVATIVE. TO PREVENT THIS PROB; WE SHOULD ALL HAVE SAME RULES. (ON A COUNTRY- BY-COUNTRY BASIS) HAVING MULTIPLE PAGES OF DIFFERENCES IN PROCS IN A COMMERCIAL MANUAL MAKE NO SENSE IF YOU ARE STAYING UP ALL NIGHT. IF WE HAD A COMPANY STANDARD PROFILE FOR INTL DSCNT; CLBS AND ETC; THIS UNNECESSARY HEADWORK WOULD BE ELIMINATED.