Ontario signs trade agreements with Saskatchewan and Alberta prior to Carney's meeting, solidifying mutual economic ties.
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Canada's Economic Powerplay: Premiers Lock Horns with Trump and Push for Nation-Building Projects
SASKATOON - In the face of escalating trade tensions with the U.S., Canadian provinces Alberta and Saskatchewan have teamed up with Ontario to forge ahead with a bold plan to supercharge the nation's economy. A series of agreements were signed Sunday, just ahead of a high-stakes meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The deals, inked in Saskatoon, mark a significant step forward in the provinces' ongoing efforts to streamline trade and strengthen their economic ties. The memorandum of understanding between Saskatchewan and Ontario promises mutual recognition of goods, workers, and investments, with Alberta's deal similarly focused on improving the free flow of goods and services between the two provinces.
The Alberta government's announcement also highlights simplified requirements for regulated professions like skilled trades, aimed at making it a breeze for professionals to work across provincial boundaries. Looser regulations on alcohol sales are also on the table, with the agreements paving the way for direct sales to consumers.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, a vocal critic of President Trump's tariff threats, described the deals as a lifeline for provincial economies, pledging to unlock $200 billion in economic gains through interprovincial cooperation. "We're scratching each other's backs, so to speak, and it's working," Ford said, addressing the simmering trade war with the U.S.
Tensions with Trump aren't slowing the premiers down; in fact, they're turning up the heat. "He's not gonna know what hit him," Ford blasted, vowing to fight "like we've never fought before" to protect Canada's economy.
But it's not all about Trump-bashing. The premiers, along with Prime Minister Carney, are also setting their sights on major nation-building projects that could help propel Canada to G7 economic greatness.
On their agenda: a port-to-port corridor in Western Canada to boost exports, potentially transforming northern B.C. and northern Manitoba into key trade hubs. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe called the plan "the largest single opportunity I've seen in my lifetime."
As for energy infrastructure, drafting and executing new oil and gas pipelines are high on the priority list. "If we truly want to be G7 heavyweights," Moe declared, "we've got to open up opportunities for all our industries, and that includes energy."
It remains to be seen if Prime Minister Carney will back the premiers' vision for a more robust Canadian economy. But with trade tensions heating up and the stakes higher than ever, one thing's clear: this is a pivotal moment in Canada's economic history.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025
- The ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. have prompted Canadian provinces to seek alternate solutions for economic growth, as evident in the recent deals signed in Saskatoon focusing on oil and gas, energy, trade, and business.
- The oil and gas industry is a significant focus of these interprovincial agreements, with a priority on drafting and executing new pipelines to position Canada as a G7 energy powerhouse.
- The news of these deals and the resulting interprovincial cooperation highlights the impact of politics, policy-and-legislation, and the economy on Canada's energy future.
- Finance plays a crucial role in these projects, as Premier Ford has pledged to unlock $200 billion in economic gains through these agreements, aimed at stimulating the growth of the oil and gas, energy, and business sectors.
- In a broader context, these deals and nation-building projects are not just a response to trade tariffs but also reflect Canada's general-news focus on asserting its economic independence in the face of war-and-conflicts or other global challenges.
- The success of these projects and Canada's economic standing will be closely monitored, with the economy, finance, and business sectors under scrutiny, as well as the politics and policy-and-legislation surrounding them.
