Manitoba must seek a seat at the table

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/09/2010 (5546 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Some deem it bad enough that the Canadian Football League has our beloved Winnipeg Blue Bombers playing in the Eastern Conference, but a newly established economic partnership between the three provinces to the west of us could be another sign the gateway to the west no longer begins at the Manitoba-Ontario border.

Earlier this year, the premiers of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan signed the New West Partnership. It opened a relationship that would serve to grow the western economy through increased trilateral co-operation.

The agreement focuses on four areas:

— Trade between the provinces will be liberalized by the removal of barriers to labour mobility, investment and inter-provincial trade.

— Joint international trade activities that will promote the interests of the West, increasing both trade and investment.

— Joint procurement for goods and services that will create opportunities for cost savings.

— Combining and co-ordinating the innovation and research efforts of the provinces.

Sounds like a good idea. Why is Manitoba not part of this agreement?

One can’t help but ask this question when we see that Manitoba is on the outside looking in as the new partnership commits to ongoing collaboration on innovative ways to strengthen the economy of the West and promoting the region globally to attract new business.

The premise of the New West Partnership is that by eliminating regulations that hinder trade and the mobility of workers, it will allow companies to grow and prosper and also strengthen the economy of the participating provinces.

A partnership like this makes the most difference in the international positioning of specific sectors. Energy is a very clear and important example of how the four western provinces can collaborate around a strategy. We each have world-class energy sectors that are the envy of the world.

The creation of an energy corridor through the West would have tremendous potential. In addition, regional collaboration around agricultural research, life sciences, value-added processing and transportation are all starved for a collaborative approach with regions that have tremendous assets and synergies.

If participating in this formidable economic bloc is not part of our plan, than what is our plan?

Quebec and Ontario signed a similar economic pact a few years ago. This leaves Manitoba as an island in a world in which operating as a regional economic bloc is the strategy of choice to compete internationally.

There is no doubt that the national economy over the last number of years has been driven by the West. The collective growth of the western provinces, and Manitoba and Saskatchewan’s stellar economic performance during the recession, has helped to keep Canada at the top of the heap compared to other G8 countries. And just as we appear to be making moves towards a collaborative approach to economic development, which could further strengthen our economic position, Manitoba sits on the sidelines while the new partnership moves forward.

The Manitoba government has said we are not in the New West Partnership because it was not invited to attend. While the agreement has been signed, a number of the provisions such as a shared common electronic tendering system and the reconciliation of differences in regulations and standards that impair trade investment and labour mobility will go though a transition stage before taking effect.

The chamber believes this transition period provides the Manitoba government with an opportunity to engage the three other western provinces and ensure we get a seat at the table and ensure Manitoba businesses are able to reap the benefits of being a part of the New West Partnership.

Dave Angus is president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.