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Premier Reaffirms Manitoba's Commitment to Internal Trade

Progress made at the 2016 summer meeting of Canada’s premiers in Whitehorse is a positive step toward Manitoba’s new government’s desire to achieve a reduction in the barriers to trade that drive up the costs for businesses to operate and complicate their ability operate in more than one jurisdiction, Premier Brian Pallister said today.

“I am pleased that Canada’s premiers have reached an agreement that will enable freer trade within Canada and that will begin to eliminate regulatory barriers between provinces and territories,” said Pallister.  “Manitoba’s position on internal trade has evolved substantially under our new government, becoming the standard-bearer with respect to the removal of preferential practices and openness to new markets.”

Manitoba is leading the way to more open trade within Canada, the premier said, noting that Manitoba’s new government has already shown an ability to work effectively in collaboration with the other provinces and territories.  The premier said Manitoba has clearly expressed a desire for the removal of barriers to trade that drive up prices for taxpayers. This commitment was evident during the Whitehorse meetings where Manitoba presented the most ambitious and open plan for removing exceptions on procurement under the new Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), he said.

“Manitoba’s openness to new trading opportunities goes beyond those offered through the new CFTA,” said Pallister. “Our government is focused on diversifying markets and further reducing barriers to trade, which is why we are moving quickly to join the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA).  I am pleased that cabinet has now approved the province’s negotiating mandate which will enable these discussions to progress.”

The premier explained that benefits to members in the New West Partnership exceed those extended through the CFTA in a number of areas including:

• stronger and more uniform coverage of procurement – the NWPTA involves comprehensive coverage of all government entities and coverage of more contracts;
• closer co-operation and no administrative overhead for regulatory reconciliation – the NWPTA allows for the ongoing sharing of regulations prior to public release, without administrative overhead;
• unified corporate registration – the NWPTA allows companies that meet the requirements of their home province to initiate registration in another province from their home jurisdiction;
• full and free registration reciprocity for temporary inter- and intra-provincial vehicle operations – the NWPTA specifically requires vehicle registration reciprocity without exceptions or additional registration fees;
• more streamlined dispute settlement and stronger monetary penalties – the NWPTA includes a provision allowing a disputant to request a judicial review of any final panel report under the respective governments Arbitration Act and has a larger maximum monetary penalty ($5 million) for Manitoba than the CFTA; and
• stronger discipline on business subsidies – the NWPTA prohibits governments from providing business subsidies that offer a competitive advantage or distort investment decisions.