Latest news with #DanielleSmith
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, left, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, right, signed a memorandum of understanding to reduce interprovincial trade barriers, in Saskatoon on Sunday.
Amid economic uncertainty in Canada due in part to U.S. tariffs, the Ontario government has reached agreements with Saskatchewan, Alberta and P.E.I., with the aim of taking steps to reduce trade barriers among the provinces. Ontario Premier Doug Ford signed separate memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz in Saskatoon on Sunday ahead of a first ministers' meeting there. Ontario signed an MOU with Manitoba in May and with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in April. Ford, who only held a news conference with Moe about the MOU, said the province is "standing up for free trade" within Canada by signing such agreements, adding that they're an attempt to offset the impact of U.S. tariffs on the Canadian economy. "Our government is on a mission to protect Ontario and to protect Canada," he told reporters in Saskatoon. "At a time when President [Donald] Trump is taking direct aim at our economy — and make no mistake about it, he wants to annihilate our economy, no matter if it's manufacturing in Ontario or any other jurisdiction that he can get his hands on, bring it down to the U.S. — and we're going to fight like we've never fought before, not just to protect Ontario but to protect the rest of our our country." Ford said the agreement aims to not only increase the standard of living in Ontario and Saskatchewan but to improve investor confidence and allow for the free movement of their "best and most in-demand" workers. "We're doing this by reducing barriers to internal trade.... We need to build a more competitive, more resilient, more self-reliant Canadian economy." Saskatchewan's Moe said the MOU is "yet one more way that we are able to stand strong for our provinces, and collectively as provinces, stand strong for our country and all the people who call Canada home." He said both he and Ford have long been advocates of streamlining trade across the country. "It shouldn't be easier to trade with other countries than it is to trade between the Canadian provinces of our nation," Moe told reporters. "It's more important now, I would say, than ever for us to prioritize removing any and all barriers that we have that limit flow of trade and limit flow of professionals from moving across Canada," he added. "It's very greatly appreciated to have another like-minded province join us on that front and to continue to put words into action." WATCH | Ontario and Manitoba sign deal to break down trade barriers: Memo to strengthen respective economies, Moe says Moe said the MOU contains mutual recognition and reciprocity — in particular, mutual recognition of goods, workers and investment. The agreement will only strengthen their respective economies, benefit workers and businesses and enhance the Canadian economy, he said. According to the MOU, Ontario and Saskatchewan pledge to build on "enabling legislation" to remove internal trade barriers to boost the flow of goods, services, investment and workers, while maintaining and strengthening the levels of public safety and respecting the role of Crown corporations within some provincial industries. Both provinces agreed to work on improving interprovincial labour mobility, saying they will aim to ensure any good, service or worker deemed acceptable in one province is also deemed acceptable in the other. As well, both agreed to work on a framework to implement a direct-to-consumer sales system of alcohol, "so that producers have easier access to market opportunities across the country, and so that consumers across Canada have greater choice and access to a broader selection of alcoholic beverages." 35% of Canada's trade takes place within its borders, Ontario says In a news release on Sunday, Alberta's Smith said: "Together, Alberta and Ontario are taking a big step toward a more open, competitive and united economy." Smith added: "This agreement is about getting results, making it easier for people to work, do business and grow across provincial lines. It's time to stop letting outdated rules hold us back and show Canadians what real economic leadership looks like." Lantz said in the release: "By eliminating unnecessary trade barriers and streamlining labour mobility, we're fostering a more unified and competitive national economy. Our collaboration with Ontario underscores our commitment to one Canadian economy." According to the Ontario government, 35 per cent of Canada's trade takes place within its borders. In early March, the U.S. imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian exports and 10 per cent on energy product exports from Canada. Later in March, the U.S. imposed tariffs of 25 per cent on Canadian steel and aluminum products. In early April, the U.S. imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian automobiles. Trump has threatened to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50 per cent on Wednesday.
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘I'm letting the process play out': Alberta premier defends extending deadline for third-party report into AHS procurement process
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces proposed changes to several pieces of democratic process legislation, in Edmonton on Tuesday April 29, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson) Alberta Premier Danielle Smith defended the extension of delivery of a judge's third-party investigation into a controversy surrounding Alberta Health Services procurement processes. Manitoba provincial court judge Raymond Wyant was originally expected to submit an interim report to the province on Friday, followed by a full report next month. Deputy Minister of jobs Chris McPherson said Wyant needed more time due to the volume of documents. He is now expected to deliver his interim report in September, with the final report coming in mid-October. The allegations stem from a wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed by Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former head of Alberta Health Services, who claims individuals in high government places interfered in overpriced health deals for private companies while she was on the job. The allegations have not been tested in court. Saturday morning, on her radio show Your Province, Your Premier, Smith defended the extension. 'There's lots of ways to do a public enquiry,' Smith said. 'We hired a judge to get all the information and to give us a report so that is what we're doing,' she added. 'The judge has said he got thousands of pages of documents and he needs to interview several people in relation to what he's learned. 'And he just asked for more time of the deputy minister who's responsible for this,' she said, 'so we've always said if he needed more time or more funding, that we'd accommodate that. 'So I think that's a demonstration that we're going to make sure the judge gets whatever they need to be able to give us a good report. 'I think they're planning now to have the report published online on Oct. 15, so we'll know in the fall.' Calls for Inquiry Smith has been criticized for not calling for an independent inquiry into the procurement controversy, but she said the government's approach is part of letting the process play out. 'If the judge comes back and says there's some criminal behaviour that took place, that someone in AHS acted in a criminal way to direct contracts to somebody inappropriately, that would probably be an indication (of the need to call an independent inquiry),' she said. 'But that is not what's happened,' she added. 'What we're actually hearing so far is that the processes were followed internally,' she said, continuing. 'In fact, two of the reports that the former CEO (Mentzelopoulos) commissioned said that there was no reason for them not to extend the contract with ASG and that's why it was extended. 'I would say that I'm going to keep an open mind,' she said. 'Part of the reason why we're going through (the judge's investigation) is there's been a lot of slander, been a lot of defamation, a lot of rumours and gossip and false allegations and that the point is, you have to be able to make sure somebody is able to look at the full evidence and say this is true, this is not – and this is what you should do. 'So I'm letting the process play out.' On Friday, Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi called out the government for not producing the report when it said it would. 'For months, we've been calling for an independent, public inquiry into the CorruptCare scandal,' said Nenshi, in a media release. 'Every step of the way, the minister dismissed those calls and claimed we didn't need one because he'd release Justice Wyant's findings to the public. 'Well, he's out of excuses,' Nenshi added. 'Where's the report?' With files from The Canadian Press
National Post
a day ago
- Business
- National Post
Bell: Danielle Smith and Alberta give Mark Carney an offer he shouldn't refuse
It is a letter. A five-page letter. Article content You could call it THE letter. Whatever happens with this letter will play a big, big part in Alberta's place in Canada going forward. Article content It is dated May 16, signed by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney. Article content On Monday, June 2, this letter will be on the table when Carney sits down with the premiers in Saskatoon. Article content Article content Before Smith gets around to making her offer, she begins her letter to Carney talking about how what Alberta wants will 'address serious issues plaguing Canada's economic well-being and the very real sense of alienation felt across the West.' Article content Article content This is serious stuff. Alberta has had more than enough. Article content She says Asian customers in Japan and South Korea have told her they believe Canada needs to 'accelerate market access of our oil, LNG, ammonia and critical minerals faster.' Article content 'We must build on what TMX delivered by creating another pipeline that delivers similar economic uplift, jobs, opportunities for reconciliation and Canadian security.' Article content Article content The premier says an oil pipeline has to be on Carney's list of nation-building projects to be fast-tracked. Article content It will also … and read between these lines … 'send an unwelcome signal to Albertans concerned about Ottawa's commitment to national unity.'
CTV News
2 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Alberta government extends deadline for judge's investigation into contract scandal
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks during a press conference in Edmonton, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Alberta's government says it's extending the deadline for a former judge to investigate allegations of high-level conflict of interest and arm-twisting in health care contracts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Alberta expected to learn soon if Carney wants to repair relationship: Smith
Speaking to supporters in Calgary on Thursday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is more optimistic about the province's relationship with the new prime minister. Nearly 2,000 supporters attended Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's annual United Conservative Party fundraising dinner at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary on Thursday. The sold-out event provided Smith with an opportunity to share her thoughts about Alberta's energy sector – including strategies about how best to get the province's natural resources to market. One of the other topics of discussion was whether or not Prime Minister Mark Carney was interested in repairing Ottawa's relationship with the western province. 'As most Albertans already know, I have repeatedly stated that I support a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada, and I personally have such high hopes that there is a path forward for that with Ottawa,' she said. 'I am going to do everything in my power to negotiate a fair deal for Alberta with the new prime minister.' Smith said she's optimistic about Alberta's relationship with Carney. 'This new prime minister - I'll give him credit for this - he has met with us many times,' she said. She said Carney's next visit to Alberta will come on Sunday, where she expects he will be meeting with business leaders 'to get an idea of what it is that Alberta wants.' 'I can tell you they're going to mirror the same things that we want, because I've been talking with them a lot, and we'll go to Saskatoon for a first ministers' meeting. 'I don't think we have to wait that long. I think we will know in the communique that comes out after a day and a half of meetings, whether this government is serious about changing course, or whether we're just going to have to double down on the fights. You don't have to wait that long - just a couple more days.' While discussions are open, Smith said there's more work ahead, adding Alberta won't ignore the tools it has to protect itself from Ottawa's overreach. 'They pass laws that are unconstitutional and illegal, and then they make us go for years and years and years to get a court decision on them,' Smith said. 'Well, we're gonna do the same thing. 'We're going to pass laws and if they think they're illegal, they can come after us.' Also during her speech, Smith called out the federal government for not backing down on its zero emission caps or Bill C-69.
