REGINA – As expected, the opposition New Democrats have introduced a private member’s bill on internal trade, but it is already facing major challenges.
The bill from Trade and Export Development critic Kim Breckner, called an Act to encourage Free Trade through Mutual Recognition, was introduced in the Legislature Wednesday.
But immediately after it was introduced for first reading, Sask Party House leader Tim McLeod rose on a point of order. He said the bill was out of order under the rules because it was a substantial duplication of the Saskatchewan Internal Trade Promotion Act introduced by the government the previous day.
That bill, introduced by Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding, will allow for the mutual recognition of goods and services entering the province from other Canadian provinces and territories.
The NDP bill also allows for the mutual recognition of goods and services, but Breckner argued there is a substantial difference between both bills.
At an embargoed news conference prior to introducing the bill, Breckner said the “key difference” is that “our bill explicitly excludes changes that would affect or weaken occupational health and safety standards that protect workers.”
As for why her legislation was needed, Breckner pointed to Saskatchewan’s economy taking a beating from American and Chinese tariffs, pointing to declines in merchandise exports from Saskatchewan to China and to the USA year over year.
The tariff situation has sparked renewed efforts this year by provinces to reduce their internal trade barriers, with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe signing a number of MOUs earlier this year and now both main parties in the Legislature introducing internal trade bills.
Breckner said her bill was just one step. “ I also want to see the government put their money where their mouth is. They need to bring back their Canadian first procurement policy. We saw them put US booze back on the shelves. They need to reverse that. They need to commit to using their money to help our economy here in Saskatchewan and Canada.”
Speaker Todd Goudy said he will review both bills before the Assembly and has deferred his decision.
