Halfway through the year, a failing grade can be given to our federal government, the federal Opposition and Canadian media for their efforts promoting Canadian intra-provincial free trade.
Build Canada reports Canada’s disappointing progress of creating internal free trade; it was reported that only 31 per cent of objectives have been achieved.
The federal government
Prime Minister Mark Carney did an excellent job promoting the idea that Canada could do more good with free trade within our country than the U.S. could do harm by imposing tariffs.
Well said; however, success lies in the mandate of the provinces to change the rules of free trade among themselves. Carney has failed to keep the political spotlight on the provinces to encourage them to make Canadian free trade within our country a reality.
Federal Opposition
Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre had the political opportunity to hold the Prime Minister to his goal of eliminating barriers to Canadian free trade but did not do so. The problem seems to be the provinces’ inaction, but in politics, taking a swing at the federal government would be good politics and encourage the prime minister to continue putting pressure on the provinces.
The Canadian press
The checks and balances of Canadian governance include both the opposition and the free press. When our prime minister says the key to success is eliminating provincial trade barriers, it should have been continuous front-page coverage that little progress was being made.
Prime Minister Carney set a deadline for Canada Day on July 1 to implement free trade agreements. Based on his stated objective, this is a failing grade for our prime minister, Poilievre and the Canadian press.
Peter Watson, of Watson Investments MBA, CFP®, R.F.P., CIM®, FCSI offers a weekly financial planning column, Dollars & Sense. He can be contacted through www.watsoninvestments.com.
