Latest news with #SusanHolt
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
N.B. premier optimistic about inter-provincial free trade following first ministers' meeting
Social Sharing New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt is hoping to see plenty of movement toward free trade over the next month, but one business group says the province could be doing more. Following meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney and other premiers in Saskatoon, Holt said she's optimistic that common ground can be found to allow greater mobility of goods and skilled labour across the country. "New Brunswick's been sort of at the table pushing the group at the federal, provincial and territorial table to move aggressively on this," she told reporters Monday night. Carney has promised federal legislation targeting barriers under Ottawa's jurisdiction by Canada Day, which could target anything from energy efficiency standards to environmental and regulatory assessments on major projects. But he praised provinces for how they've been working to reduce barriers to trade. "I can't keep up with the flurry of announcements of free trade agreements between provinces across the country," he said. WATCH | What has New Brunswick actually done for inter-provincial trade? Holt says N.B. is a leader in removing trade barriers. The truth is more complicated 2 hours ago Duration 2:52 "The federal government will do its part tabling legislation very shortly to eliminate federal barriers to inter-provincial movement of goods and people and also to put in place an ability to advance projects of national interest." So far, New Brunswick has dropped a number of procurement exemptions for provincial agencies and has signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador to explore greater labour mobility. The province has also passed legislation allowing for greater sales of out-of-province alcohol, but that will require agreement from other provinces to take effect. Another piece of legislation will smooth out licensing requirements for regulated workers who are certified in other provinces, allowing them to work while applying for certification with the corresponding New Brunswick body. However, the Atlantic vice-president with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said the province could go further, by recognizing certification in other provinces. "Essentially the province is allowing people to come in to work, but it's in view of getting their certification," said Louis-Philippe Gauthier. "Our contention would be that if somebody is certified by a professional association in one province, they should be allowed to practise in another. That's just a simple reality." Provinces like Nova Scotia and Ontario are at various stages of passing legislation to do just that. A number of MOUs have been signed between individual provinces, as they look to drop restrictions over certain goods and services. Holt has even proposed an Atlantic free trade zone, with no trade restrictions among neighbouring provinces. While Gauthier said the momentum is positive, he warns that a new patchwork of differing agreements may not be much better than the free trade agreement the provinces have now. "Allowing the government to still impose restrictions just creates a Canadian trade agreement 2.0, where we're just going to see 169 different MOUs signed between each and every province and territory and that's not necessarily desirable," he said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
N.B. premier optimistic about inter-provincial free trade following first ministers' meeting
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt is hoping to see plenty of movement toward free trade over the next month, but one business group says the province could be doing more. Following meetings with Prime Minister Mark Carney and other premiers in Saskatoon, Holt said she's optimistic that common ground can be found to allow greater mobility of goods and skilled labour across the country. "New Brunswick's been sort of at the table pushing the group at the federal, provincial and territorial table to move aggressively on this," she told reporters Monday night. Carney has promised federal legislation targeting barriers under Ottawa's jurisdiction by Canada Day, which could target anything from energy efficiency standards to environmental and regulatory assessments on major projects. But he praised provinces for how they've been working to reduce barriers to trade. "I can't keep up with the flurry of announcements of free trade agreements between provinces across the country," he said. WATCH | What has New Brunswick actually done for inter-provincial trade? "The federal government will do its part tabling legislation very shortly to eliminate federal barriers to inter-provincial movement of goods and people and also to put in place an ability to advance projects of national interest." So far, New Brunswick has dropped a number of procurement exemptions for provincial agencies and has signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) with Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador to explore greater labour mobility. The province has also passed legislation allowing for greater sales of out-of-province alcohol, but that will require agreement from other provinces to take effect. Another piece of legislation will smooth out licensing requirements for regulated workers who are certified in other provinces, allowing them to work while applying for certification with the corresponding New Brunswick body. However, the Atlantic vice-president with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said the province could go further, by recognizing certification in other provinces. "Essentially the province is allowing people to come in to work, but it's in view of getting their certification," said Louis-Philippe Gauthier. "Our contention would be that if somebody is certified by a professional association in one province, they should be allowed to practise in another. That's just a simple reality." Provinces like Nova Scotia and Ontario are at various stages of passing legislation to do just that. A number of MOUs have been signed between individual provinces, as they look to drop restrictions over certain goods and services. Holt has even proposed an Atlantic free trade zone, with no trade restrictions among neighbouring provinces. While Gauthier said the momentum is positive, he warns that a new patchwork of differing agreements may not be much better than the free trade agreement the provinces have now. "Allowing the government to still impose restrictions just creates a Canadian trade agreement 2.0, where we're just going to see 169 different MOUs signed between each and every province and territory and that's not necessarily desirable," he said. "Right now we have momentum, there's a desire, there's political support for moving forward and hopefully all the provinces will find a way without maintaining or adding restrictions."
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Moving energy from Eastern Canada prioritized at first ministers' meeting
A plan to generate and transmit energy from Eastern Canada to other markets has been prioritized as a 'nation-building' project, following a meeting with the premiers and Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Eastern Energy Partnership would link hydro and wind power from Atlantic Canada and Quebec to destinations in Western Canada and U.S. states in New England. An initial cost of $8 billion has been tagged for transmission infrastructure. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said a portion of the plan, dubbed 'Wind West,' would send energy from the province's offshore wind zones via a transmission cable. 'Nova Scotia's Wind West project can produce enough energy that is the equivalent of powering up to 27 per cent of the country's needs,' said Houston in a social media video post Monday evening. 'This energy is very valuable. New England has massive extra energy needs and they're certainly not alone.' New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt said she was 'really happy' to see the Eastern Energy Partnership emerge as a top priority at the first ministers' meeting, held in Saskatoon on Monday. 'The provinces have a role to play, the federal government has a role to play,' said Holt to reporters. 'They've expressed a strong desire to see those connections made between provinces to have an integrated grid that contributes to New Brunswick and to Canada being an energy superpower.' Oil pipelines were a focus during the first ministers' meeting, with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressing interest for potential pipeline routes that would bypass Quebec. 'I think what New Brunswick is most interested in right now is natural gas and extending a natural gas line that stops in Quebec City, a couple hundred kilometres to the border of New Brunswick,' said Holt. 'And then through New Brunswick to the different places that I mentioned: Belledune, down the west and connecting in at Fredericton and the Maritimes and northeast pipeline. 'That source of natural gas is something the industry wants. And then we can take it further and look at what we do with our LNG terminal in Saint John, if there's a reliable source of gas to put back into a liquefaction plan.' Holt responded to questions about Smith's pitch for an oil pipeline from Alberta to Hudson Bay to reach eastern markets, and what role New Brunswick could play. 'I think the timeline on a project like that is extensive,' said Holt. 'Probably a bit longer than it would take to build a couple hundred kilometres of natural gas line from Quebec City down.'
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
N.B. premier supports prioritizing pipelines at meeting as Alberta seeks non-east coast routes
New Brunswick's premier, Susan Holt, says she's interested in what may come from pipelines being front-and-centre at meetings between the Prime Minister and first ministers, as Alberta's premier looks for potential pipeline ports away from eastern Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney asked the premiers to bring ideas and priorities for 'nation-building' projects to the meeting in Saskatoon. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe have indicated pipeline capacity as their top line items. Holt was asked by reporters Monday, before entering the meeting, where she stood on pipelines being prioritized. 'We're really interested in getting that kind of infrastructure from coast-to-coast-to-coast,' said Holt. 'We want to make sure all of Canada can benefit from its resources. So, when we look at the kind of partnerships that are coming from the east, they include that kind of infrastructure.' In May, Holt listed her meeting priorities as including a push on critical mineral development, modular home construction, and port capacity for increased trade. As for pipelines, Holt said it would require buy-in from several sectors. In recent months Quebec Premier François Legault has been noted for being open to a discussion about pipelines. He responded to reporter questions about pipeline support on Monday by saying, 'no proposal was before him.' 'If there's a project going through Quebec we will study it,' said Legault. 'That's all what I said.' Smith told reporters her attention was shifting on pipeline developments going to ports in northern British Columbia and Manitoba, avoiding Quebec. 'I'm interested in working with partners who want to work with me,' Smith said, before entering the meeting. 'I got to work where I think we're going to have the most success. And where I think we'll have the most success right now is working on a corridor between Hudson Bay and Prince Rupert. I'm hoping we can get some common ground on that.' Smith defended tying pipeline support to national unity, as musings ramp up from some Alberta residents about separating from Canada. 'You have to understand just how damaged Alberta is by the fact that we didn't get pipelines built,' said Smith, referring to the failure of past proposed projects including Energy East.
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Holt affirms interest in national energy corridor
At a first ministers' meeting in Saskatoon, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says a national energy corridor could help improve coast-to-coast relations.
