Doug Ford and Scott Moe agree to work on eliminating trade barriers on eve of first ministers' meeting

On the eve of a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney about knocking down internal trade barriers, Ontario Premier Doug Ford inked a new agreement with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to work on eliminating barriers between the two provinces. Both leaders participated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Saskatoon on Sunday. The document said Ford and Moe agree to “build on their respective enabling legislation to remove internal trade barriers between them,” in order to increase the flow of workers as well as services and goods, such as alcohol. Last month, Ford’s Progressive Conservative government introduced legislation aimed at removing trade barriers between Ontario and other provinces. Ford has already made similar announcements with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba. Ford and other premiers have turned their attention to addressing longstanding internal trade barriers in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war. In recent weeks, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec have all tabled legislation aimed at boosting interprovincial trade. The new memorandum of understanding with Moe cites his Saskatchewan Party government’s forthcoming legislation to address the issue. The document signed on Sunday says that Ontario and Saskatchewan “will strive to ensure that a good or equivalent service or registered worker that is deemed acceptable for sale, use or work in Ontario, is deemed acceptable for sale, use or work in Saskatchewan — and vice versa.” It also calls on other Canadian provincial and territorial leaders to table their own legislation to knock down internal trade barriers, including “through mutual recognition.” Internal trade is expected to be a focal point of discussion when Carney meets with all 13 provincial and territorial leaders on Monday. The prime minister has repeatedly said Canada’s economy would be stronger if it acted as one, not as 13. Another major topic of discussion at Monday’s first ministers’ meeting will be how Ottawa plans to fast-track the building of major energy and infrastructure projects, with Carney promising to knock down the timeline for approvals to two years from five. From Nova Scotia’s ‘Wind West’ to Alberta’s pipeline dream, here are the national projects premiers are pitching Carney Premiers will be provided with an overview of yet-to-be-tabled legislation that seeks to establish a new major projects office and allow for changes to the current regulatory system. The same bill is also expected to contain measures to remove federal trade barriers, something Carney has promised would happen by Canada Day. While Carney has asked all premiers to put forward projects, the federal government will only consider those deemed to be in the “national interest” to run through the faster approvals system. A government source familiar with the matter, speaking on the condition of background, said that Ottawa is not offering a “blank cheque” to premiers, but would be evaluating future federal support for projects on a “case-by-case” basis. The goal, the source said, is to work to remove some of the hurdles existing within the current approvals regime and for provinces to raise their own capital. Speaking to CBC News last week, Carney signalled the government would soon be naming projects that will be fast-tracked. Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak has said she understands the frustration some chiefs have expressed at the federal government’s approach to fast-track projects, saying First Nations leaders need to be at the table when decisions are being made.  Before heading to Saskatoon, Carney had a meeting with Woodhouse Nepinak, where the proposed legislation was discussed.  In terms of the projects that have been pitched, Ford is asking for the Ring of Fire, a long-dreamed-of mining project in the Hudson’s Bay lowlands, to be considered, as well as his promise of building a tunnel under Highway 401. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew put forward a plan to turn the Port of Churchill into a trade corridor, while Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is seeking federal support to expand his province’s capacity to export offshore wind, pitching his project as “Wind West.” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has asked Carney to commit to working to build an oil pipeline from her province to British Columbia’s coast to access Asian markets. Premiers are expected to discuss some of the projects when they meet on Monday. In a letter to the prime minister released by Smith’s office, the premier said that an oil pipeline to B.C.’s coast “must be on the initial list of nation-building projects to signal to industry that the government is committed to seeing private sector investment.” “Failure to have an oil pipeline on the initial list will perpetuate current investment uncertainty and send an unwelcome signal to Albertans concerned about Ottawa’s commitment to national unity.” Carney spoke to representatives of Alberta’s energy sector on Sunday before travelling to Saskatoon, where he is expected to attend a private reception with premiers and stakeholders. During his opening remarks, the prime minister addressed a letter which had been sent to him by nearly 40 CEOs of Canadian energy companies asking that he get rid of the federal emissions cap and scrap the carbon price charged to industries. “It’s a critical time for our country,” he said. “The world’s certainly more divided and dangerous and the imperative of making Canada an energy superpower in all respects has never been greater. We will do everything we can at the federal government level to support those partnerships.” staylor@postmedia.com National Post Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here.

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