The Honourable Peter Bjornson
Manitoba would take the next steps in advancing initiatives under Canada’s Agreement on Internal Trade under proposed amendments to the Proceedings Against the Crown Act, Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade Minister Peter Bjornson announced today.
“This government is committed to eliminating barriers to interprovincial trade and, once passed, these amendments will be an essential step forward,” said Bjornson.
Manitoba strongly supports the Agreement on Internal Trade as an appropriate and effective agreement and is taking steps to ensure compliance in government-to-government dispute resolution, the minister said.
The amendments would allow penalties delivered by a national trade panel against the province to be enforced. Once passed, the amendments would fulfil a commitment made under the Agreement on Internal Trade, which aims to eliminate trade barriers and promote labour mobility in Canada.
All signatories of the agreement have agreed to ensure penalties awarded in a government-to-government dispute are enforceable within their own jurisdictions.
