The True Post(Web News)Alberta and Saskatchewan signed several agreements to remove trade barriers with Ontario on Sunday ahead of a meeting with Premier Mark Carney, after which they hope the plan will supercharge the economy.
The memorandum of understanding between Saskatchewan and Ontario gives the two provinces mutual recognition of each other’s goods, workers and investment, while a statement from the Alberta government said its agreement with Ontario aims to improve the free flow of goods and services between the two provinces. Alberta’s statement also said the agreement will simplify requirements for regulated professions such as skilled trades, making it easier for professionals to work across provincial borders. Both deals, signed in Saskatoon ahead of the first ministers’ meeting in the city on Monday, promise to advance measures that would allow willing provinces to sell alcohol directly to consumers.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the deals would help boost provincial economies as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened more tariffs on Canadian steel. “We’ve never been attacked by a world leader like President Trump,” Ford said of the Saskatchewan deal. They are the latest deals Ford has made to open up trade with provinces, which he says could unlock $200 billion in economic benefits.
Alberta Premier Daniel Smith said his agreement with Ontario also welcomes the possibility of Ontario joining the New West Partnership trade agreement, which has worked to streamline rules and standards in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It’s time to leave the old rules behind and show Canadians what real economic leadership looks like. Ford
said the prime minister needs to remove regulations to make projects easier. That includes repealing the Impact Assessment Act. It all depends on the pace at the moment (in building projects). Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he is looking forward to a port-to-port corridor in western Canada to move more goods from Hudson Bay to northern B.C. and northern Manitoba. He said this is the biggest opportunity he has seen in his lifetime. We just need to come together and then stand side by side and take advantage of the opportunities that we have from a business perspective. He said he thinks Carney understands that there is a sense of isolation in some areas of the country. Both Alberta and Saskatchewan have long had grievances with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who he says made it difficult for industry to build energy projects.
