Wednesday July 23, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
BC Premier David Eby has signed trade agreements with the Premiers of Ontario (Doug Ford), Manitoba (Wab Kinew), and Yukon (Mike Pemberton) during the Council of the Federation summer meeting in Huntsville, Ontario yesterday.
For the cameras there are Trump-style moments … some premiers signing in front of the camera then holding up the documents… kind of like holding up a big fish you’ve just caught.
When signing the agreements, Premier Eby presented B.C.-themed gifts to his fellow premiers, including a signed B.C. Lions football jersey for Premier Kinew.
Removing trade barriers, less reliance on US:
“British Columbia shoppers will have more choice, while workers and professionals will have greater freedom to move between provinces after the signing of three internal trade agreements at the Council of the Federation,” said the BC Premier’s office in a July 22 news release.
The signed agreements are to continue working to remove trade barriers between provinces and territories.
“At a time when we’re facing an unprecedented attack on our economy, it’s more important than ever that we work together to remove trade barriers between provinces,” Premier Eby said.
“With these trade agreements, we’re making it easier to buy and sell our great Canadian products to our fellow Canadian neighbours. This is another important step towards building a stronger economy here at home – one that’s less reliant on the U.S and works better for people.”
The two provinces also agreed to work on a framework for a direct-to-consumer system for alcoholic beverages, so producers will have easier access to markets, while consumers will get more choice.
Working across jurisdictions:
“With President Trump’s ongoing threats to our economy, there’s never been a more important time to boost internal trade to build a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a statement.
- ONTARIO: The agreement with Ontario makes it easier for people in regulated trades and professions to work in either province; the collaboration on interprovincial trade will attempt to reduce duplication, pull down barriers and harmonize various regulations and standards.
- MANITOBA: The Manitoba agreement includes measures to increase the mobility of regulated workers and professionals. B.C. will also endeavour to allow alcoholic beverages from Manitoba to be sold directly to B.C. consumers. Manitoba already permits this for B.C.’s alcoholic beverages.
- YUKON: B.C. and Yukon agreed to collaborate on removing barriers to trade. Both will also align standards for regulated occupations and registration processes. In May, both governments signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the potential of connecting electrical grids.
Council of the Federation:
Premiers from all 10 provinces and three territories have gathered in Huntsville, Ontario for the summer meeting of the Council of the Federation (COF), July 21 to 23.
Topics discussed at the council’s summer meeting, which was hosted by Ontario Premier Premier Ford who has chaired COF For the past year, included health, public safety, energy security, labour mobility, immigration, Canada-U.S. relations, sovereignty and national security, emergency management, and energy security, as well as international and internal trade.
===== RELATED:
- Prime Minister Carney at Premiers meeting – building one strong economy (July 22, 2025)
- Premiers discuss building a stronger more secure Canada (July 22, 2025)
- Carney shares G7 outcomes with premiers (June 22, 2025)
- Summer meeting of Canada’s Premiers coming up July 21 to 23 (June 10, 2025)
- Carney & premiers embrace infrastructure projects for boosting the economy (June 2, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION | BC 43rd PARLIAMENT