The one thing you need to be careful of is so seamlessly equating "UAE" with "EK"
Etihad have the same number of flights to Toronto, and would no dobt have an A380 on it if they had one. the UAE Government is in Abu Dhabi, not Dubai, and I get it is much more keen to see Etihad prosper than support the continued growth of Emirates.
Much as TC and MF have been vocal about dis-agreeing with Canadas policies, I think they are probably cringing at the actions and rhetoric of the UAE government- THEY know something about diplomacy, even if the UAE does not.