St. Albert, Alberta…Senate candidate Len Bracko sees provincial trade barriers as a key issue that must be addressed in Canada.
“Provincial trade barriers cost business and Canadians billions/year, and is an issue that has been a concern to me for many years,” says Bracko. As the MLA for St. Albert in 1995, Bracko lobbied the Alberta Government to eliminate trade barriers starting with provincial agreements. As AUMA Director, he worked on a Governance Committee to address issues related trade.
In 2006, Premiers Klein and Campbell established The Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) to remove trade barriers between Alberta and British Columbia. Saskatchewan was the third province to join Alberta and British Columbia under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA) that creates Canada’s largest, barrier-free, interprovincial market and presents a great opportunity for continued economic growth in all three provinces.
“NWPTA has resulted in concrete benefits to the signatory provinces. I would like to see a similar agreement in place that removes barriers between all provinces and territories in Canada,” says Bracko. “I can see a Senate Committee having a key role in facilitating this agreement.”
Some of the benefits of the NWPTA (www.newwestpartnershiptrade.ca ) include:
- Canada’s most open and competitive economy
British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan have a market of almost nine million people and a Gross Domestic Product of more than $550 billion. - Labour mobility
Labour mobility provisions allow certified workers to practice their occupation in the three provinces without being subject to additional exams or training requirements. - Business registration
Businesses registrants in one province will be able to seamlessly register in the other provinces at the same time as their original incorporation. All residency requirements are removed. - Streamlined regulations
Unnecessary differences in business standards and regulations will be eliminated. - Enhanced competitiveness
Allowing goods, services, capital and workers to flow freely across the British Columbia-Alberta-Saskatchewan borders will boost trade, make it easier for businesses to expand into the other provinces, and lower costs for businesses and taxpayers. - Best value for public spending
Open procurement policies with low thresholds help ensure best value for tax dollars. This also creates more opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses to bid on public contracts.
To read more about Bracko, including his goals and accomplishments, visit www.lenbracko.ca.
Contact:
Len Bracko
Candidate for the Senate
780-218-4475
