In our non-radar environment, pilots will request a visual, contact the Flight Service for traffic, then hand off to the FSS in under 20 miles to the final approach. From what Toronto contollers have asked is that pilots report the field visual before they request the visual approach. If they drop off radar, their best approach would be the contact, or a fixed approach based on the approach plate. Or, when the aircraft is talking to the arriving airport, that airport personel will hotline Toronto to request an approval for either the visual or contact. Get this, new rules state one aircraft can be on a visual or contact approach while the following aircraft, say 5 + miles behind the number 1, cannot copycat that first guy's approach. The following aircraft must cancel IFR and get traffic updates with local tower/fss, or keep the IFR active and the radar center will issue a hold until the aircraft ahead has cancelled IFR or reports vacant from the runway.