Harper spat with U.A.E. could cost billions: Ontario cabinet minister

                                                             Sandra Pupatello

OTTAWA

An Ontario cabinet minister is warning that the Harper government's spat with the United Arab Emirates could cost businesses in her province billions of dollars in future contracts.

Sandra Pupatello, Ontario's economic development and trade minister, says the spat over landing rights has "sullied" Canada's reputation in the Middle East.

Pupatello is in Dubai, U.A.E., where she's heading a trade mission of 20 Ontario health services companies.

Pupatello said Prime Minister Stephen Harper is behaving like a protectionist — not a free trader — by denying two U.A.E. airlines additional landing rights in Canada.

The diplomatic dispute has escalated with the U.A.E. kicking Canada out of a key military base and imposing expensive travel visas in retaliation for denying the extra landings.

Ontario wants to deepen economic ties in the Middle East, but Pupatello says Ottawa has made that more difficult.

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