Wall, western premiers talk trade and diversification

REGINA – Canada’s western premiers are presenting a united front to push the federal government for free trade agreements with Asian markets.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says successfully negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership would help diversify the economies of western provinces in light of plunging oil prices.

Wall and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark noted both provinces are heavily reliant on resource revenue and have had to find other ways to bring in cash – with agriculture and potash carrying the load in Saskatchewan and B.C. paying its bills with forestry and liquefied natural gas.

Wall says it speaks volumes when a large region agrees on economic issues despite governments representing different parties.

READ MORE: Canada free trade agenda: Roaring success or hopelessly stalled?

“If Yukon Premier (Darrell) Pasloski says we want more trade with India, and B.C. Premier (Christy) Clark can say we want more trade with China, we just have a stronger voice within the federation,” Wall said.

The provincial and territorial leaders also expressed strong support for federal efforts to encourage the United States to act on the recent World Trade Organization ruling to bring an end to country-of-origin labelling of meat products.

Over the phone

The annual meeting was hosted by Wall via teleconference rather than in-person to save time and money. Only Alberta’s new Premier Rachel Notley was absent because of a lengthy swearing-in ceremony of her new government.

Wall reiterated that he and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark would like Notley to remain part of the New West Partnership between the three provinces, but there has been no indication either way since Notley’s NDP won a May 5 election.

With files from The Canadian Press