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Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan sign trade agreement
Susan Thompson
for South Peace News
Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan signed an economic partnership deal Sept. 11 at a joint cabinet meeting in Calgary.
The Western Economic Partnership is an interprovincial trade agreement that creates the largest barrier-free trade and investment market in Canada.
“I am pleased that we are one step closer to completing the Western Economic Partnership that we committed to at our last meeting,” said Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall in a press release. “This partnership will break down unnecessary trade barriers and facilitate cooperation on international marketing, innovation and procurement.”
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach told reporters Canada’s three westernmost provinces contribute significantly to Canada’s economic growth, and dismissed the idea that Alberta is performing worse than its closest neighbours.
Alberta is projecting a $6.9 billion deficit, while British Columbia is forecasting a $2.8 billion deficit and Saskatchewan expects a $50 million surplus.
“We are faring much better than the (other) two provinces,” Stelmach said. “I don’t want to start comparing economies, but our economy is larger, our revenue stream is larger and also the most volatile.”
The Premiers also a signed Memorandum of Understanding on Carbon Capture and Storage Technology and Policy.
“Collaboration in the West has best positioned our provinces to lead Canada both economically and in the development of clean energy technologies such as carbon capture and storage,” said Premier Stelmach. “By joining forces with B.C. and Saskatchewan, we can better develop and deploy this innovative technology, helping to meet climate change objectives and make us international leaders in this technology.”
The Premiers committed to improve pension coverage for workers by offering a regional voluntary plan for workers who do not already have an employer-based plan. The majority of workers in all three provinces are without an employer-provided pension plan.
The Premiers also committed to coordinating a gang database by the end of 2009.
Other topics of discussion included the importance of Canada’s trade relationship with the United States and the potential for the west to eliminate Canada’s reliance on a single source for medical isotopes for cancer.
The Premiers will undertake a joint mission to China to explore trade and investment opportunities in spring of 2010.
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