Saskatchewan: New West Partnership

New West Partnership: Manitoba's NDP government has rejected all calls to join the New West Partnership, a working trade agreement signed by British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan that last year formed an economic zone of nine million people with a combined GDP of $500 billion. Now Ontario might be going that way. , according to Winnipeg Free Press. Under the New West Partnership agreement, B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan have harmonized their trucking regulations, easing the travel of large commercial vehicles across shared borders, and have melded rules for bidding for public tenders, which by default favours firms from partner provinces in government procurement. Standardized corporate registration and regulation mean firms go through one process, not three, to operate in the provinces. Those working in trade and professional fields can find employment in any of the three jurisdictions without having to re-certify. DALE CUMMINGS / Ontario Conservative leader Tim Hudak is getting his ducks in line as talk of a possible election there heats up. Mr. Hudak has announced should his party form government, it would take Ontario into the New West Partnership, making for easier access for its manufactured goods to the hot resource economies. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.