Oooooh!

Is Canada getting tough with the EU?

Canada threatens retaliation if oilsands given black eye

"Canada has quietly fired a diplomatic shot across the bow of the European Union, warning that any move to single out oilsands crude as environmentally unfriendly will be met with retaliation.

Canada's ambassador to the EU, David Plunkett, sent a letter to Connie Hedegaard, the EU commissioner for climate change in December.

That letter was recently obtained through a freedom of information request and cited by Britain's the Guardian newspaper, which has been reporting on the EU plan to change the classification of oilsands crude.

Ottawa opposes any move that would hurt its ability to export oilsands products or market it around the world as a viable fuel option.

"If the final measures single out oilsands crude in a discriminatory, arbitrary or unscientific way, or are otherwise inconsistent with the EU's international trade obligations, I want to state that Canada will explore every avenue at its disposal to defend its interests, including at the World Trade Organization," stated the letter."

Well done Harper! But why "quitely"? And what sort of retaliation?