We’ve got another angle on trade this week with Premier Scott Moe extending an offer to other provinces and territories to join the four western provinces as signatories to the New West Partnership.
It is the latest in an ongoing debate about trade, trading patterns and procurement in this country, a debate largely triggered by Donald Trump’s tariff initiative and his 51st State comments.
First of all, Trump sparked a wave of nationalism in this country which spawned a buy Canada movement. This is largely an extension of the Buy Local concept that has also enjoyed renewed notoriety.
Now, Moe has added another nuance: from Buy Regional to Buy National.
New West is well-established and helps smaller provinces like Saskatchewan compete in Alberta or BC even though business here has not been especially aggressive about it.
Basically, it says every province that belongs to the deal must offer the same rules for extra-provincial signatories on public procurement as it does for locals. There are exceptions but generally it defeats Buy Local favoritism or at the very least expands what is considered local.
