P.E.I. government moving too fast on easing interprovincial trade restrictions, say opposition parties
Opposition parties on P.E.I. are urging caution when it comes to the Progressive Conservatives' proposed bill to eliminate trade barriers between provinces.
Debate began Tuesday in the legislature on the Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act, introduced last Friday by Premier Rob Lantz.
The bill would ease the flow of goods to and from other provinces with similar legislation, and make it easier for workers in some regulated professions to find employment on the Island.
Lantz has said he wants to get the act through the legislature as fast as possible, but the Liberals and Greens argued that the government is moving too quickly to be able to figure out which trade barriers it should keep.
WATCH | Bees, oysters and farm machinery raised as P.E.I. politicians debate new bill on trade barriers:
"If we were the last [province] to come forward, they'd be criticizing us … but we're showing leadership by coming forward," Lantz said during question period.
"It's a priority in this country. Canadians want to see us dropping interprovincial trade barriers."
Nova Scotia became the first province to enact this type of legislation back in February in an effort to boost the economy after U.S. President Donald Trump signalled he wanted to launch a trade war with numerous countries, including Canada.
Prince Edward Island is currently the only other province to propose a reciprocal bill. The idea is that every province that passes similar laws would recognize the others' standards, regulations and accreditations.
There are some important exceptions in the P.E.I. bill — regulated health professions and lawyers would not fall under the act.
The opposition parties pointed out Tuesday that Nova Scotia's legislation had to be significantly amended after groups representing veterinarians and other professional associations said they would lose any ability to regulate or even track who was practising in that province.
There can be more carve-outs for other professions in P.E.I.'s bill, but it's not yet clear what those would be.
'Runs a risk'
There was also concern Tuesday that the legislation would supersede all other laws, including P.E.I.'s Lands Protection Act, which limits non-residential land ownership in the province.
Green MLA Matt MacFarlane says it's risky to move so quickly to enact legislation that supersedes all other laws on P.E.I. (CBC)
Green Party MLA Matt MacFarlane took issue with the first line of the act, which reads that its purpose is to "remove barriers to trade in goods, services and investment between the province and other jurisdictions within Canada."
The Greens tried to get the word "investment" removed from the bill.
"Copying from Nova Scotia's legislation and bringing it in here without looking at our unique … laws in this province, I think that runs a risk, and I think the risk is if we move too quickly through this review," MacFarlane said.The premier actually agreed with the Greens' motion, saying he didn't believe removing the term would alter the bill's purpose.
"We don't feel like the inclusion of that word provides … any undue risk," Lantz said. "We had no objection to deleting it because it doesn't substantially change the intent of the bill."
The amendment seemed to catch the PCs off guard — the premier and Finance Minister Jill Burridge voted with the opposition, but the rest of the PCs defeated it, so "investment" remains in the bill.
Lantz hopes the act will be ready for July 1 to align with Prime Minister Mark Carney's pledge to have "free trade by Canada Day."
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