Manitoba’s farm groups are happy about a new bill to reduce the regulation red tape hindering interprovincial trade.
Manitoba’s farm groups say they’re glad to see the province’s latest effort to break down interprovincial trade barriers.
On May 22, a new bill hit the table in the Manitoba legislature. Bill 47, the Fair Trade in Canada Act, is based on mutual recognition with other provinces and would streamline the regulatory red tape that otherwise bogs down the flow of goods and services between provinces, the Manitoba government said.
The bill would let the province designate other provinces or territories with similar legislation as a “reciprocating jurisdiction.” Goods and services from those areas would then get special status, indicating them has having met standards and approvals comparable to those required in Manitoba.
Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) lauded the move, saying breaking down interprovincial trade barriers would help create resilient, competitive markets for farmers in Manitoba.
“This initiative is a positive step forward and supports a sustainable future for agriculture in our province,” said KAP general manager Colin Hornby. “We are encouraged to see political discourse and legislation being brought forward in Manitoba that includes solutions to address the removal of interprovincial trade barriers.”
The bill could fit with similar legislation from the federal government. It would not, however, apply to goods and services from a Crown corporation.
WHY IT MATTERS: Trade tensions with the U.S. have put more attention on knocking down interprovincial trade barriers than Canada has seen in years.
KAP noted that it’s been collaborating with the provincial government through its Trade Action Plan, pushing for trade policy that meets the priorities of the province’s farmers. Part of that is the reduction of domestic and international trade hurdles.
Other agriculture sectors are also optimistic about the move.
Fewer provincial trade barriers would be a win for the beef sector, said Carson Callum, general manager of Manitoba Beef Producers, especially since the sector is so reliant on both domestic and international trade.
“Having uniformity and consistency in standards is key, and it is also important that these standards meet the standards our customers require as part of international trade agreements,” Callum said. “Removing regulatory barriers across provinces that impact efficiencies — such as transport regulations — are areas our sector feels are key areas of focus to improve interprovincial trade.”
Cam Dahl, general manager of the Manitoba Pork Council, agrees. He believes Bill 47 is a step toward removing not just barriers to interprovincial trade, but barriers to labour mobilities. For example, he suggested, a veterinarian certified in Ontario would be able work in Manitoba. He also flagged difficulties in transport regulations.
The bill is “something that’s really positive, and something that Manitoba Pork fully supports,” he said.
Dahl hopes that the provincial and federal government will continue to work on securing export markets.
“We can’t forget that, of the eight million-plus pigs that are produced every year, 90 per cent of those are exported,” he said.
The Canadian market for homegrown pulses is smaller than several export markets, but Bill 47 would still help their growers, said Daryl Domitruk, executive director of Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers.
“We look at it as every mouthful of Manitoba beans consumed at home represents more than a financial transaction — it represents a ‘contract’ with our neighbours and fellow citizens, wherein Manitoba pulse farmers guarantee a high quality, sustainably produced, affordable and nutritious … locally grown food product in exchange for the trust and confidence of Manitobans and Canadians that what farmers are doing is good for us all,” he said.
For the Manitoba Crop Alliance, the new legislation highlights the importance of supporting Manitoba and Canadian farmers amid trade uncertainty, while also affirming that the provincial government understands how important agriculture is to the province’s economy.
The Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association was also thrilled to see the new legislation tabled, said executive director Duncan Morrison.
The bill has potential to gain traction and evolve into a mindset for Canadian consumers, he added. In addition to Canada making the most of international trade opportunities and Manitoba gaining strong market power on the world product stage, there’s selling opportunities at home.
“Manitoba has some high-end products produced by our farmers and agricultural industries,” he said.
Buy Canadian
At the same time as tabling Bill 47, the province announced that every June 1 will now be dubbed “Buy Manitoba, Buy Canadian Day.”
The awareness day dovetails with messaging from both provincial and federal politicians, who have urged Canadian consumers to keep their spending domestic and local since trade tensions came to a head earlier this year.
Manitoba agriculture groups were similarly welcoming to the new domestic spending day.
Morrison noted that many farmers in his association’s network direct market to Manitobans via farm websites, farmers markets or community events.
“As such, we are very pleased to see such a day that reels buyers and sellers into shared space, emphasizing Made in Manitoba and Canada first products and purchases,” Morrison said.
Domitruk also noted that industry has an ongoing campaign to promote bean consumption in Canada.
The Manitoba Crop Alliance, meanwhile, is “supportive of a ‘Buy Manitoba, Buy Canadian Day’ as an opportunity to encourage Manitobans to purchase products made from agricultural commodities grown in the province,” said Tyler Difley, the group’s communications advisor.
And, as far as Dahl is concerned, any day is a good day to buy Canadian pork.
“I would encourage all consumers to look for that verified Canadian pork logo, of course,” he said.
Building on co-operation
The May 22 announcements are the next step in economic co-operation following a memorandum of understanding signed between Ontario and Manitoba in mid-May.
That agreement said both provinces would introduce legislation with a reciprocal mutual recognition framework to reduce trade barriers, following the example of other provinces, such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and British Columbia, who have all introduced similar legislation.
“Through this legislation and co-operation with other provinces, territories and the federal government, we will unlock more economic opportunities for people across the country. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient economy that will support Manitoba workers and bring our country together,” Manitoba’s trade minister, Jamie Moses, said May 22 after Bill 47 was tabled.