NDP-Tories spar as interprovincial trade bill up in the air

A game of political chicken at the Manitoba legislature could mean the premier will go to the first ministers meeting in Saskatoon Monday without an interprovincial trade bill and MLAs’ summer recess would be delayed three weeks.

“If (the Progressive Conservatives) want to sit here throughout the month of June, we are very happy to do so,” Premier Wab Kinew said during question period Thursday.

The NDP want the Tories’ co-operation to fast-track the Fair Trade in Canada (Internal Trade Mutual Recognition) Act and the Buy Manitoba, Buy Canadian Day Act. It was introduced May 22, long past the deadline for bills to be guaranteed passage before the house rises on Monday. The opposition has said it won’t pass the bill unless the NDP agrees to pass four of their bills.

On Thursday, Kinew tabled a letter from Nova Scotia PC Premier Tim Houston saying that Manitoba’s fair trade bill meets his province’s criteria for reciprocal free trade.

Kinew wanted Bill 47 passed before he meets with Prime Minister Mark Carney and his fellow premiers in Saskatoon. Internal trade is expected to be a key part of the discussions.

Carney has said he wants a Canada-wide interprovincial free trade deal signed by July 1. The federal government’s speech from the throne delivered Tuesday by King Charles called for free trade across Canada.

“It is crucial that Manitoba’s interprovincial trade legislation is passed without further delay,” the premier said in a news release Thursday.

It pointed to support for the elimination of interprovincial trade barriers from business and labour leaders — including Keystone Agricultural Producers president Jill Verwey, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president Loren Remillard and the United Steelworkers Manitoba co-ordinator Mike Pulak.

The news release said the legislative sitting will be extended into the summer if the passage of the bill is delayed.

“We will pass Bill 47 within a few days and then we can spend the rest of the month talking about Sio (Silica),” the premier told the chamber Thursday. He was referring to ethics commissioner Jeffrey Schnoor’s report last week that found former premier Heather Stefanson, then-deputy premier Cliff Cullen and former economic development minister Jeff Wharton — the MLA for Red River North — acted improperly by trying to get a controversial sand mine licensed after the PCs lost the election and before the NDP government was sworn in.

Schnoor recommended fines of $18,000, $12,000 and $10,000 respectively that the Manitoba Legislative Assembly must vote on within 10 sitting days of the tabling of his report.

The PCs refused to fast-track the bill Thursday and said it’s the NDP government’s own fault for missing the deadline to get the bill passed before the summer recess and for refusing to work with the opposition.

“We have clearly laid out a pathway for passing this bill,” PC leader Obby Khan told reporters Thursday. “It is unfortunate that the government house leader refuses to negotiate, refuses to be reasonable, refuses to put Manitobans first.”

Government house leader Nahanni Fontaine said the bill is in the best interests of the province and the country as it faces U.S. president Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs and making Canada the 51st state.

“It’s incredibly disappointing to see the Manitoba PCs choose to play games rather than do the job that they’re elected to do, which I remind folks is to do what’s in the best interest of Manitobans,” Fontaine said.

Management of the legislative agenda is the responsibility of the government house leader, said veteran political observer Paul Thomas.

“Even in a majority government situation, making progress on moving bills forward depends somewhat on the co-operation of the opposition,” the University of Manitoba political studies professor emeritus said. “Achieving that co-operation involves negotiation within meetings between the two house leaders. In addition to the clash of their respective political goals, the interpersonal styles and the level of respect between the house leaders affect how constructive such meeting are.”

Sometimes bills just aren’t ready on time, he said.

“Unforeseen events can occur which prevent the government from completing its legislative agenda based on a possible plan starting the session. There have been more than a few unforeseen, disruptive events this spring.”

Members return to the chamber Monday and will sit for an additional three weeks if the government requests an extension from the Speaker.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca