By Shane O'Neill

Hoback optimistic for future of Canada-U.S. trade

Feb 10, 2017 | 3:06 PM

When it comes to trade with Canada’s largest business partner, member of Parliament Randy Hoback remains optimistic about Canada’s role in the economic plan for the United States.

The Prince Albert MP spoke with the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce on Friday, on the government’s plan to work with the new administration in Washington and his role in keeping Canada’s interests top of mind.

“I think it’s important to reach out, and first of all, let people know what we’re doing and how the government’s working in the background together to make sure that we do what we can to protect Canadian jobs,” Hoback said after the meeting.

With 70 per cent of Canadian trade directed either at or through the United States, the stakes are high in any renegotiation of Canada-U.S. trade deals. Despite not being a member of the governing party, Hoback said the strategy being deployed by Canada is one of co-operation across party lines, in order to promote Canadian interests.

“[The Liberals] have basically thrown an olive branch out to us and we’ve thrown out an olive branch back to them to work together in a non-partisan manner to move this file forward,” he explained. “There’s just too much at stake, there’s too many jobs at stake, it’s too much for our economy to lose that customer.”

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Gordon Jahn, board chair of the Chamber of Commerce, was encouraged by the discussion with Hoback, in light of the uncertainty surrounding many of the Trump administration’s planned policies.

“I really appreciated the update that he gave us and, certainly, we got some real insight into some of the motivations on the U.S. side,” he said.

NAFTA has been the target of much of Trump’s rhetoric, both during his campaign and since the inauguration. He’s called the agreement a “bad deal” for the United States, but Hoback feels many legislators in the U.S. see all multi-lateral trade agreements as an opportunity for other countries to gang up on and take advantage of the U.S. economy. It is bi-lateral agreements, directly between the United States and another country, where Americans see benefits. Canada’s relationship with the U.S. is one where common ground can be found, he said.

“Every minute about $1.4 million worth of trade goes across the border between Canada and the U.S., so 10 minutes is $14 million,” Hoback explained, when asked about his thoughts on Canada’s trade relationship south of the border. “We’ve had $5.3 trillion worth of investment in Canada as a result of NAFTA.”

Hoback will travel the Washington D.C. for National Governors Association convention to meet with policy makers at both the state and federal level.

shane.oneill@panow.com

On Twitter: @stroneill