Manitoba signs pro-trade agreements with four provinces

Manitoba has agreed to break down trade barriers and increase labour mobility with four additional provinces.

On Monday at a premiers meeting in Ontario, Premier Wab Kinew signed memoranda of understanding with his counterparts in Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, a news release issued by the Manitoba government said.

“These agreements reflect Manitoba’s ongoing efforts to build a stronger, more unified Canadian economy, one where goods, services and workers can move more freely between provinces, while maintaining the highest standards for health and safety,” Kinew said in the news release.

“By working with partners across the nation, we are unlocking opportunities for people and businesses, building up this country we all love so much.”

The agreements align with Manitoba’s Fair Trade in Canada (Internal Trade Mutual Recognition) Act and Labour Mobility Act, said Kinew.

The co-operation agreements include a shared commitment to remove internal trade barriers, work to ensure credential recognition with other provinces’ licensing and regulatory frameworks, and to allow for direct-to-consumer alcohol sales from Manitoba producers, and a commitment to further discussions to give consumers more choice and create new markets for producers, the release said.

Manitoba signed a similar MOU with Ontario in May. Manitoba and Saskatchewan have been strong trading partners through the New West Partnership Trade Agreement that includes the four western provinces, neighbouring Premier Scott Moe said in the release.

“Together, we are encouraging other jurisdictions to join Canada’s most ambitious domestic trade agreement, and we are building on our economic relationship through further trade collaboration, for example, on direct-to-consumer alcohol sales,” Moe said.

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B.C. Premier David Eby, a New Democrat, said his province and Manitoba “share values and a commitment to put our people first. I’m happy to be able to team up with my good friend Wab Kinew to directly benefit families by growing the economy in both of our provinces.”

fpcity@freepress.mb.ca