The Progressive Conservatives are moving on the New West Partnership agreement to reduce red tape across provincial borders
Manitoba’s agri-businesses should be thrilled that the new provincial government is aggressively seizing trade opportunities, says the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce.
“We’ve got a government that is sending all the right messages to business, that they’re in favour of looking at all those trade opportunities and working with Manitoba businesses to take full advantage of those when they come into fruition,” said MCC president Chuck Davidson.
One of the earliest acts of premier Brian Pallister’s new Progressive Conservative government was to begin negotiations to sign the New West Partnership agreement, which includes Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
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Canada has many interprovincial trade barriers and complexities, but the New West Partnership is a forum in which the three governments, and probably soon Manitoba, can eliminate, reduce and mitigate regulatory complications that stop businesses operating across provincial lines.
Agriculture and food production are industries particularly affected by cross-border complications with services such as trucking often facing different rules in different provinces. Those rules are evening out to the west of Manitoba, and Davidson said he hopes to see more wrinkles removed once Manitoba is a member.
Keystone Agricultural Producers president Dan Mazier was also pleased to see Pallister move on the New West Partnership.
“We’re so integrated into each other, as the western part of Canada,” said Mazier.
“Being isolated in a province that is landlocked is not a good idea. It puts you in really awkward situations.”
Many interprovincial complications lie to the east as well, so Davidson is hoping that Manitoba joining the New West Partnership helps create momentum for further cross-Canada improvements.
“We’d love to see that consistency across Canada, but this is a good start for Manitoba,” said Davidson.
The Pallister government also pleased many food processors and producers by quickly stating its strong support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
He said the provincial government doesn’t have much say over whether the international trade deal is approved, but showing that it understands the importance of trade and exports sends a good signal.
“They look at these as tremendous opportunities,” Davidson said about food processors.
“We’re obviously hugely in favour.”
KAP is also happy about the support for TPP, but Mazier said it also hopes the provincial government stays attuned to the worries of supply-managed sectors, who are concerned about the TPP.
“I think it’s good that they’re encouraging (TPP) because 80 percent of our goods we export … but don’t forget we have a very good-running sector of supply management farmers,” said Mazier.
