SASKATOON – It looks like legislation aimed at removing trade barriers is coming to the Saskatchewan legislature this fall.
The Sask Party government has confirmed it is planning legislation of its own, after the NDP announced Thursday in Saskatoon their intentions to introduce a private members’ bill on removing interprovincial trade barriers.
The NDP’s critic for Trade and Economic Development Kim Breckner provided details to SaskToday about her proposed bill to be introduced in the new session.
“What this law is looking to do is make it easier for goods and services to move between Saskatchewan and the rest of Canada, by allowing for recognition of similar rules and standards in other provinces, so this is kind of what is known as mutual recognition,” said Breckner.
Breckner pointed to similar laws introduced in Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario, and Manitoba.
“We believe that the same is needed here in Saskatchewan. So with our economy, taking a pounding between a trade war on two fronts, we hear a lot of financial anxiety from people. The aim of this legislation is to make it easier for goods and services to flow, reducing the cost of doing business, which in turn would reduce the cost to consumers and help Saskatchewan businesses branch out and bring investment into Saskatchewan as well.“
Earlier this summer, Premier Scott Moe signed a number of memorandums of understanding on removing interprovincial trade barriers with other provinces, including Ontario and Manitoba. Breckner indicated she wants something with more teeth.
“That’s just talk, that’s all we’ve seen out of the Sask Party,” Breckner said of the MOUs. “If we actually want the rubber to meet the road, we need to implant legislation. It’s only through legislation and laws that we can actually say OK, now we recognize the standards and regulations of other provinces that share this mutual recognition. That’s how it actually gets on the books and creates this benefit to Saskatchewan businesses and Saskatchewan consumers.”
The NDP were also criticizing the Sask. Party again for reversing the Canada-first procurement policies that they had brought in earlier this spring after President Donald Trump’s initial round of tariffs, including removing American alcohol from liquor store shelves.
In a news release the NDP accused the government of having “U-turned on the few Pro-Canada trade measures they previously had, putting American booze back on the shelves and no longer prioritizing Canadian companies for public contracts.”
Province plans free trade enhancements
In a statement, the government confirmed plans to introduce what it calls “free trade enhancements this fall through legislation.”
There are no details yet of exactly what this legislation would consist of, with the government still keeping details of their plans for the fall sitting under wraps. The Legislature resumes on Oct. 22.
The government also took time to blast the NDP for supporting “closed-off” procurement policies to keep out bidders from outside Saskatchewan. The full government statement to SaskToday is as follows:
“The Government of Saskatchewan has long been a leader in reducing internal barriers; advocating for free and fair trade across Canada and around the world. Our government is already leading Canada in free trade measures including nation-leading labour mobility legislation and signing several free-trade MOUs.
We plan on introducing more free trade enhancements this fall through legislation.
“The lost and reckless NDP are actively promoting breaching existing internal free trade agreements through their closed-off procurement policies that would prohibit Canadian companies from working in Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan companies from working in other provinces. They also campaigned on closing down trade offices in the last provincial election.”
