Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
June 10, 2015
Minister Provides Update on Trade Renewal Ministers’ Meeting
Mr. Speaker I am pleased to report on yesterday’s Trade Renewal Ministers’ Meeting, which took place in conjunction with the full round of Internal Trade negotiations ongoing this week in Toronto.
This was the first meeting of ministers responsible for trade in four years and it was a productive meeting. With nine provincial and territorial ministers in attendance, we were in agreement on the need to aggressively pursue the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT). At their 2014 summer meeting, Canada’s Premiers agreed to undertake a comprehensive renewal of the agreement, using the existing AIT and considering the desire to ensure more consistency with modern international trade agreements.
Mr. Speaker, Canada’s economy is a healthy and competitive one. As a province, we need to be at our best. AIT is the most ambitious internal trade agreement this country has ever seen.
The Provincial Government is pleased to be involved in the renegotiation of the AIT and looks forward to continued collaboration with other provinces and territories to reach a modernized AIT that has far reaching benefits for Newfoundland and Labrador and the entire country.
The opportunity to address the long-standing barriers to the interprovincial transmission of energy goods in Canada is a primary motivating factor for Newfoundland and Labrador in these negotiations.
Fair and transparent access to markets is the primary goal of trade agreements, and the AIT must be no different. This principle must extend to energy markets as such resources must be afforded free and transparent access to interprovincial transmission infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, during our meeting we were joined by the Business Alliance, representing the business community. The alliance raised important issues facing businesses, specifically regulatory barriers that impact the ability to efficiently carry out commerce across the country. This was valuable insight, and rest assured, we will take a progressive and comprehensive approach to internal trade.
Newfoundland and Labrador fully supports modernization of the AIT so that it better aligns with Canada’s international trade agreements, and applies to all sectors of the economy for the benefit of all provinces and territories.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
2015 06 10 2:15 p.m.