Latest news with #internal trade
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Quebec won't make a bilateral trade deal with Ontario
OTTAWA — When Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Quebec Premier François Legault faced reporters last week, some grinning and nervous laughter ensued when both men were asked why their two provinces could not come to a bilateral agreement on internal trade. Ford has so far signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on trade with every province and territory — except for Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. Ford said he had 'all the confidence' in Legault, whom he considers to be a friend, and called him a 'smart business person' who 'wants prosperity for the people of Quebec' and understands that 'when Quebec and Ontario prosper, the whole country prospers.' 'So, I'm confident we'll sit down and really hash out a deal,' he said. Speaking in French, Legault said his government wholeheartedly agrees with Ford's objective of lifting internal trade barriers between provinces, but said Quebec would attain the same objective by debating and passing legislation — Bill 112 — in the fall. The bill seeks to facilitate the commercialization of goods from other provinces and territories in Quebec — with some exceptions that will be made public on the government's website — as well as the mobility of certified workers in the province. In an interview, Quebec Minister for the Economy Christopher Skeete, who tabled the bill, said he appreciates the intent behind Ontario and others signing MOUs with other jurisdictions, but said these agreements would amount to added layers of bureaucracy. 'The thinking for us is if you pass a bill like we're passing with Bill 112, that basically just opens everything. Then the point for an MOU becomes moot,' he said. Skeete, who is also responsible for red tape reduction, said the signing of MOUs between different provinces and territories will lead to businesses having to potentially go through dozens of separate agreements if they want to do business elsewhere in the country. 'I'm not sure we're providing the clarity that the exercise in cross-border trade seeks to remedy. I think the way forward is to say mutual recognition and harmonization where possible, and let's just go. I think that is the posture that we need to be dealing with.' Ontario already adopted Bill 2, the Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, which enables provincial regulators to mutually recognize goods, services and recognized workers from reciprocating provinces and territories and the federal government. An official in Ford's office, speaking on a not-for-attribution basis to discuss internal matters more freely, said they respect Quebec's wish to go solely the legislative route. 'Certainly, we respect that process, and our door continues to remain open,' they said. The official added each MOU does not need dedicated legislation to enact the terms set out between Ontario and each province or territory, but specific agreements could help with the free flow of direct alcohol sales to consumers, for instance. Legault has a majority government in Quebec, which means that Bill 112 will almost certainly pass in the fall. But the bulk of the work on determining which goods should be excluded by regulation from internal trade will commence right after, said Skeete. 'The clock starts when we pass the bill,' he said, adding that different departments inside the Quebec government will have about 12 months to get back to the government and give them a list of goods that they want to opt out of or want to exclude from internal trade. 'In other words, if there's something that's being sold outside of Quebec that you absolutely want to have a different norm, you're going to have to tell us, and then we will publish that on our (ministry of the) Economy website for transparency.' That way, Skeete added, 'businesses will know exactly what they're getting themselves into when they do business in Quebec.' Many requirements that are considered not essential would be dropped once Bill 112 is in place. For instance, Transport Quebec currently has requirements that scooters should have reflectors be a specific colour, and be located both on the wheels and in the back. 'That kind of thing creates a barrier. So, we can agree that the scooter needs to have certain safety measures … but certainly, the colour and the location of the reflectors is really not the dealbreaker. So, that's the kind of thing that would disappear,' said Skeete. Some things, however, will not change under Bill 112. A senior government official in Quebec said French language laws will continue to apply for goods, and that professional orders in Quebec could require the mastery of French to practice in the province. Quebec also has more stringent consumer protection laws, which means that goods coming into the province are still subject to certain guarantees, warranties and other norms bound by Quebec's Office de la protection du consommateur, noted Skeete. The example of the scooter made in another province would not be exempt from warranty obligations unique to Quebec nor would it be exempt from having instructions in French for how to handle the scooter if it were to be sold in the province, he said. 'The way to do business in Quebec doesn't change just because you're importing things from other provinces now.' 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National Post
2 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Michael Taube: No, Globe and Mail, Mark Carney isn't the second coming of Brian Mulroney
Mark Carney has been prime minister of Canada since March. He's been called many things by many people in this short time period. It never came to mind that he would be described as a 'progressive conservative' along the lines of Brian Mulroney. Article content This, in a nutshell, is the nonsense that the Globe and Mail's editorial board is currently peddling. Article content Article content 'That Mr. Carney was going to drag the Liberal Party back to the centre after years of an NDP-lite government under Mr. Trudeau was to be expected,' a June 28 Globe editorial noted. 'But more than mannerisms have changed. Since April, the Prime Minister has cut personal income taxes, boosted defence spending dramatically, pledged to cut the cost of the federal bureaucracy, tightened immigration rules, eliminated federal barriers to internal trade, created a framework for breaking the stasis on big national projects and signaled that he will dismiss underperforming top bureaucrats,' they wrote. Article content Article content The Globe's editorial board suggested 'that's an agenda that Brian Mulroney could have endorsed.' Article content Article content This analysis likely raised a few eyebrows, and not just in the Mulroney household. Alas, the editorial writers then flipped their collective wig with this bizarre assessment. 'In fact, it overlaps a good deal with the actual governing record of his Progressive Conservatives. Mr. Carney is a Liberal but, in the early going, he looks to be governing much like a Red Tory — a progressive kind of conservative.' Article content We shouldn't be surprised by the Globe's over-the-top analysis of Carney's leadership. It's become the raison d'être of this once-venerable publication to carry water for this particular prime minister. Article content Nevertheless, let's be serious about our national leader. Carney is certainly a progressive, but he's no 'progressive conservative' in any way, shape or form. Article content Left-leaning progressive conservatives, or Red Tories, generally combine two ideological components: classical conservative sensibilities (espoused by High Tories like philosopher Edmund Burke and former U.K. prime minister Benjamin Disraeli) and socialist-type policies such as government intrusion and developing a social safety net. Article content Article content As Gad Horowitz, a professor emeritus at the University of Toronto, wrote in the May-June 1965 issue of the defunct left-wing magazine Canadian Dimension, 'socialism has more in common with Toryism than with liberalism, for liberalism is possessive individualism, while socialism and Toryism are variants of collectivism.' Article content Article content Modern conservatism has little in common with classical conservatism. The former has largely incorporated classical liberal and libertarian ideals into its main ideology, while maintaining a smattering of social conservative principles related to individuals and families. That's why modern conservatives typically champion small government, lower taxes, free markets, private enterprise, greater individual rights and freedoms and so forth. Article content Carney doesn't fit into these conservative-leaning parameters. His progressive values do fit within the context of the modern Liberal Party of Canada. While he's not exactly the same as Trudeau, I pointed out in a March 16 National Post column that they're 'remarkably similar.' How so? In my estimation, 'they're both left-wing, pro-government intervention, distrust privatization and free markets, favour wealth redistribution, champion radical environmentalist policies, support woke ideology and political correctness — and more.' That's what today's Liberals basically stand for, and Carney's personal and political record fits like a glove.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Final day for Canada's premiers to meet at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, top centre, speaks as he hosts the premiers during the 2025 summer meetings of Canada's Premiers at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont., on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette Canada's premiers are set to meet for the third and final day in Ontario cottage country Wednesday with internal trade, public safety and health care on the agenda. The premiers met with Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday as the August 1 deadline looms to strike a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump. Carney says he's not worried about the impending deadline, stating that his government will use all the time that's necessary to get the best deal. The prime minister described his ideal agreement as one that preserves, reinforces and stabilizes the trade relationship between Canada and the U.S. while still leaving Canada free to pursue other interests. Related Articles
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Premiers entering final day of meetings with public safety, internal trade on agenda
Canada's premiers are set to meet for the third and final day of their gathering in Ontario's cottage country, with internal trade, public safety and health care on the agenda. The premiers met with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Huntsville, Ont., on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump after meeting with First Nation leaders the previous day. The prime minister and the premiers presented a united front in the face of U.S. tariffs, but revealed little about the negotiations with an Aug. 1 deadline in trade talks fast approaching. The prime minister and the premiers all downplayed the importance of getting a deal done soon to avoid further U.S. tariffs, saying they want the best deal possible regardless of timing. A number of provinces also signed several free trade deals to open up internal trade while others committed to building pipelines to get oil and gas to new markets. The premiers are set to hold a closing press conference this afternoon. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025. Liam Casey, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
