Premiers agree in principle to internal trade deal

‘HISTORIC DAY’

• Canada’s premiers and territorial leaders have agreed in principle on an internal trade deal they say will help create jobs and improve the economy.

Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski, speaking at the end of a two-day premiers meeting in Whitehorse, called it a “historic day.”

He said there are still some technical issues to work on before the deal is submitted to the federal government and First Nations.

Pasloski said the deal also establishes a working group to study how to improve trade in beer, wine and spirits across the country.

Earlier in the day, Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec agreed to allow online purchases of wine from each other’s provinces.

“We haven’t freed the grapes entirely, but they’re a little bit freer,” said B.C. Premier Christy Clark in making the announcement.

Quebec’s Philippe Couillard said it could take another two or three years to implement the deal. He added that Nova Scotia, another wine-producing province, is also interested in signing on.

The wine announcement was an indication of just how tough it has been to achieve a deal to allow Canadians to trade freely with their fellow citizens.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley acknowledged that several provinces, including hers, are seeking exemptions for economic development initiatives.

“It’s really important that we open up trade across the country,” she said. “But it’s also important to ensure that where there’s a need for provincial governments to engage intentionally in economic stimulus or regional development that they’re able to do that.”

Alberta is planning to spend billions on infrastructure to energize an economy damaged by low oil prices and the Fort McMurray wildfire.

Clark said she especially supports an internal trade deal after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s criticism of the North American Free Trade Agreement during his speech Thursday night.

“If there was ever a time when Canadians need to come together and have free trade in our own country, it must be now when Americans are making noises like that,” she said.

The premiers were also debating how many strings they’re willing to have attached to new federal money for health care. They have been asking the federal Liberals to increase their share of the funding to 25 per cent from an average of about 20 per cent.

Ottawa has suggested it’s willing to provide more money, but wants much of it spent on such federal priorities as mental health.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said he’s willing to listen.

“What the premiers are saying is, let’s deal with the funding situation first,” he said. “Then we discuss federal government priorities. If their priorities are long-term care and seniors care, that will be the priority of almost every province and territory.”

Couillard repeated his opposition to any strings at all.

“We are totally opposed to targeted funding,” he said. “This is a concept we will never let go. We will decide how to use the funds.”

Kathleen Wynne of Ontario acknowledged there is a way to go before the premiers present a united front.

“There’s an acceptance that there needs to be accountability for those dollars and there’s a range of issues that we have to tackle as provinces and territories,” she said.