Manitoba gets kudos for cutting barriers to internal trade
The province of Manitoba has received high marks from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in its work to reduce barriers to free trade with provinces and territories.
Manitoba ranked second, just behind Alberta, in its efforts to promote free, internal trade, the CFIB said in The State of Internal Trade: Canada’s Interprovincial Cooperation Report Card.
The provinces and territories were measured in their work in the spirit of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (previously the Agreement on Internal Trade), which seeks to reduce barriers to the movement of goods, services, labour, and investment.
The report card grades governments in three areas: exceptions to the CFTA, select barriers to internal trade, and implementation status of reconciliation agreements. Overall grades range from a low “F” to a high of a “B”, with some grades in the subcategories being higher.
Premier Heather Stefanson, commenting on Manitoba’s standing, noted the CFIB recognized Manitoba’s leadership in having the fewest labour mobility restrictions in the country and among the fewest remaining internal trade exemptions, for signing the most regulatory reconciliation agreements and for being the only jurisdiction to permit full direct to consumer alcohol sales across the country with no import restrictions on personal use.
“There is much more work to do in these areas across the country, to strengthen our national economy and assist people facing ongoing affordability challenges,” Stefanson said. “I am committed to pushing all first ministers to further advance this important work and our government will continue to lead by example, nationally, for the benefit of all Manitobans.”
The MHCA has pressed the provincial government to put trade at the centre of its economic growth strategy, with attention to the investment plans for trade corridors and gateways in Manitoba and across Western Canada.
“This report card is evidence that the provincial government understands the importance of free, unfettered trade across the country,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc said. “What we need in Manitoba and across Canada is a strategic approach to building the infrastructure that makes trade possible – a seamless, efficient network of highways, rail, air, inland hubs, land and marine ports – to ensure we can get people to jobs and goods to market.”
