Ending provincial trade barriers, buying local part of Central Sask. economic plan

“We as the Chambers have been lobbying for that for quite some time,” Hughes explained.

Getting rid of the barriers would add over $200 billion to the national GDP.

The barriers are mainly the result of regulatory differences between provinces and can affect things such as licensing professionals (doctors/nurses/dentists), heavy truck transport rules and even selling alcohol.

The issue was raised in a 1940 report on Dominion-Provincial Relations, in fact.

According to Statistics Canada, one-third of our trade is between provinces while the rest goes outside of national borders.

Hughes said that if US president Donald Trump does go forward with his promised 25 per cent tariff on March 1, businesses will see increased costs.

One of the hardest hit will be manufacturing, she said.

“You take a look at anybody that’s using any steel, etc and that kind of stuff, that’s where a great impact is going to be.”

For instance, Bourgault Tillage near St. Brieux would have a large increase in the cost of making their farm equipment.

Diversifying customers and finding more countries than the United States to trade with is crucial.

“You see in business sometimes – and I’ve seen it – where they’ve all invested in that one single partner and all of a sudden, that partner goes. It’s gone and your business is done.

“As a business, how do we make sure that there’s many eggs in our basket?”

The trading partners are there, she said. Europe and Japan are both eager for improved trade and are large markets.

Canada and the EU have a provisional trade agreement, first agreed upon in 2017. It still needs the ratification of all members of the EU, however, and as of August 2024, 10 signatures were still needed(Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Slovenia).

Japan is Canada’s fourth largest trading partner and both countries are members of the Tran-Pacific Partnership. Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Brunei, Chile, Peru, Vietnam and Singapore have also joined. The UK was added later.

Messaging around buying local is taking root, which Hughes welcomed and said she hoped it becomes a matter of course.

Lake Country Co-op is taking the chance to point out the local products it already sells in its grocery stores.

CEO Tim Keller said that Co-op has a strong trading relationship with the US and hopes for a good outcome but meanwhile, they will be actively looking for alternatives to American-supplied items.

Local or regional co-ops buy products through Federated Co-ops (FCL), which makes Saskatchewan-produced products available on store shelves from B.C. to Manitoba.

For hyper-local products, they must be inspected by appropriate departments of the government and comply with food safety regulations. After that is done, it’s up to local food store managers to decide whether to carry the product or not.

“As a Co-op, we deeply value local, and what better way to show that support than by promoting Saskatchewan-made products? It’s a great way to help these businesses thrive while staying true to our community roots,” said Justin Chaskavich, Prairie North Co-op Melfort food store manager, in a news release.

Not including the Saskatchewan products he sources from FCL, Chaskavich brings in over 60 products from 15 different local companies to sell.

Canadian grocery chain Loblaw (Superstore, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, No Frills) is also actively looking for more Canadian products and will be bringing in more Mexican foods.

The company’s CEO says Loblaw would seek Mexican alternatives for products it would usually purchase from the United States — since Mexico is also facing the tariffs on the same timeline as Canada.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcneil.bsky.social

by Susan McNeil

Ending provincial trade barriers, buying local part of Central Sask. economic plan

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