Manitoba signs agreements with 4 provinces to improve trade and labour mobility
Premier Wab Kinew said the province has signed four separate memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Saskatchewan, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island during the Council of the Federation meeting in Huntsville, Ont.
The agreements outline a shared commitment to remove internal trade barriers between Manitoba and each province, while ensuring workers' credentials are recognized across the provinces to increase job mobility.
They also include a promise to expand direct-to-consumer alcohol sales from Manitoba producers in each of the four provinces.
"It feels good as a Canadian to see that the leaders from all regions and at the highest level are working together. It feels good as a premier to know that we're walking in lockstep with our colleagues," Kinew said during a virtual press conference Tuesday.
Manitoba also signed a separate memorandum of understanding with Saskatchewan and Arctic Gateway Group to expand Arctic trade via the Port of Churchill.
Kinew told reporters that he also had a productive meeting with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, where they discussed shared economic priorities.
"We're definitely all on the same page in terms of definitely wanting to build up Canada and build up our economy," he said, calling the meetings in Huntsville "Team Canada's huddle" before the Aug. 1 deadline to reach a trade deal with the U.S.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government "will not accept a bad deal" and is working toward a trade agreement that's "in the best interest of Canadians."
Kinew told CBC's David Cochrane on Power and Politics Tuesday afternoon that Canadians should remain patient as provincial and federal leaders work to build local economies and try to secure a deal with an often-volatile trading partner to the south.
"Given the way the Trump administration has continuously moved the goalposts, has continuously put different issues on the table, taking them off, I think we should maybe just let go of the Aug. 1 deadline as a fixation. And the fixation that we should have is a good deal," he said.
On Tuesday, the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario also signed memorandums of understanding to build new pipelines, railroads and energy infrastructure to move oil, gas and critical minerals between the provinces. Manitoba did not sign the agreement.
Kinew said Manitoba's major infrastructure projects must first have a consensus from Indigenous stakeholders before putting shovels in the ground.
The Council of the Federation meeting continues in Huntsville on Wednesday.
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