Vive Le Canada

Provinces Should Deal More Directly With U.S. Neighbours: Ontario's Premier

Posted on Friday, July 29 at 08:43 by jensonj
"Obviously, (federal politicians) have the lead role to play when it comes to representing the nation as a whole. But it's really important for us now as premiers, at the beginning of the 21st century, to have good, close working relationships with our U.S. counterparts." The premier pointed to his meetings Wednesday with U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins and Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue as examples of recent attempts to strengthen relations between Ontario and U.S. jurisdictions. He has also recently met with Ohio Gov. Bob Taft and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. McGuinty was speaking ahead of an Aug. 10-12 conference among Canadian premiers in Banff, Alta. It's expected the meeting will see the premiers collectively pressure Prime Minister Paul Martin to increase federal funding for health and social programs. http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/news/shownews.jsp?content=n072737A# [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on August 1, 2005]

Note: http://www.macleans.ca/...

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  1. by Anonymous
    Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:45 pm
    CRAP!
    There have been no (serious) efforts made towards any interprovincial free trade agreements. Let's see our "honored" leaders gather 'round the table and hammer out a Provincial Free Trade Accord with the same alacrity they exhibited with FTA, NAFTA, et al.

    The Ontario north-south situation is a direct indictment of federal government kowtowing to the almighty vote. A simple case in point is the $500 millions being given to General Motors to set up a plant in Ontario. This is free trade?

  2. by RPW
    Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:52 pm
    Sorry! Didn't sign in.........

    ---
    RickW

  3. by Marcarc
    Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:54 pm
    The reason that there is no significant provincial free trade is that most corporations have a presence in more than one province which means that inter-company activity easily helps them avoid duties.

    Another reason is that there simply is no need for it. Most provinces main exports are in energy, which means there's little reason for others to climb on board.

    Finally, with most provinces being 'have not' provinces, in other words, with investment being so lopsided there's little incentive.

  4. by RPW
    Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:29 am
    Re: my example of the feds subsidizing Ontario, so-called "have" province. Now why isn't Ontario footng the bill itself, and the $500 million or so being used to diversify "have-not" economies.....?

    Shows that inter-provincial trade is sorely needed, rather than opposite.

    ---
    RickW

  5. by Dave Ruston
    Sat Jul 30, 2005 5:07 am
    McGuinty doesn`t speak for this Ontarian! He`s just another egghead playing into the divide and conquer game.

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    Dave Ruston

  6. by Marcarc
    Sat Jul 30, 2005 2:13 pm
    This is exactly what the US wants, a deeply divisive Canada. Not a broken up canada (I"m sure it doesn't care, it gets what it wants). Keeping everything off balance means Canadians have simply too many issues to get involved in. From history its clear that the one US enemy the world over is what they call "radical nationalism", meaning that countries cannot be allowed to be nationalistic enough to believe that THEY should be the beneficiaries of their own resources. In Canada this is pretty much the case, all our energy goes down there, while pockets of canadian industry do OK (but not 'great') the rest starves while sitting on vast resources. I remember an Iraqi telling me they used to pay 5 cents a litre for gas. We provide the gas for the US, and WE pay a higher price for it, how's that for FUBAR. Hopefully some of this will get canadians attention.

  7. by RPW
    Sun Jul 31, 2005 3:48 am
    Interprovincial trade would help mend the nation, especially as it would mean Ottawa woul dhave to get off it's collective ass and do somewthing to bring transportation into the 20th century (er, 21st century) Aw hell, I would settle for the 20th.......

    The regional disparities in this country are due largely to a transportation policy that makes it inconvenient and/or prohibitive for Canadians to see Canada, and other Canadians, as a matter of course. Interprovincial trade would help in this.

    ---
    RickW

  8. by Anonymous
    Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:30 am
    Yup.

    -perturbed.



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