BC Opposition proposes interprovincial free trade

“The estimate is that the trade barriers we have across this country is the equivalent of a 23% tariff on British Columbia itself,” says Rustad. “So that right there, if you take that down and start having the trade across that rate, there will automatically open up opportunities. But it’s more than that. We are very, very uncompetitive.”

BC and Alberta recently struck a form of free trade, allowing British Columbia wineries can sell their products directly to Alberta consumers directly. It is a topic that has been top-of-mind for months now, courtesy of the President of the United States who – on again off again – imposed twenty-five per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. The challenge is that small businesses cannot pivot on a dime.

“When you have a small business, your ability to pivot is difficult. Your ability to modernize is more difficult. Right? You’re you’re you’re operating within your silo, your nose to the grindstone. You don’t have the staff capacity or the financial capacity to pivot quickly. Some do, but most don’t.”

Neil Godbout says government needs to help on the regulatory side of things for small business. And there is urgency to the need for government response.

“Government showed us during COVID how quickly provincial and federal government can move when there’s a crisis, when there’s a sense of urgency,” says Godbout. “Here we are in another crisis. And so far we’re seeing encouraging signs both from provincial provincial governments, not just BC, but across Canada, some sense of urgency and willingness to move and certainly federally as well.”

The Act has been introduced in the Legislature and the next steps are pending.

by Cheryl Jahn

BC Opposition proposes interprovincial free trade

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