Canada needs a stronger dispute-settlement system to ensure open interprovincial trade, coalition says 

Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments should take advantage of this week’s meeting of the Committee on Internal Trade to craft an effective dispute-settlement mechanism that ensures free and open interprovincial trade, says a national coalition of ten business, industry and professional associations.

“Trade barriers hurt all Canadians by damaging our country’s productivity and competitiveness,” said Carole Presseault, a spokesperson for the internal trade coalition. “The time has come for a much stronger commitment to the principle of open trade — including, if necessary, binding arbitration to resolve internal trade disputes and significant monetary penalties.”

Today’s statement by the coalition follows the release in April of a discussion paper calling on all levels of government to cooperate in finding ways to improve trade, investment and labour mobility in Canada.

The bold approach recommended by the coalition has four key elements that, taken together, would eliminate trade barriers that hamper the domestic economy:

• Federal legislation to establish a set of “open trade principles” designed to ensure a free and open market, without discriminatory practices;
• Creation of a standing internal trade tribunal that would be accessible to all Canadians as a means of resolving internal trade disputes;
• Implementation of all outstanding rulings by panels established under the 12- year-old Agreement on Internal Trade; and,
• An agreement that all tribunal orders and existing panel decisions would be subject to enforcement by the courts at the option of the disputants.

The coalition consists of the Canadian Bankers Association, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada, the Dairy Processors Association of Canada and the Vegetable Oil Industry of Canada.

Copies of the coalition’s discussion paper, Improving Internal Trade: A Bold Approach, are available online at www.cga.org/canada/internaltrade.

Media representatives who are covering tomorrow’s meeting of the Committee on Internal Trade can arrange interviews by contacting:

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