TILMA: Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall continues to back peddle; recent letter to City of Saskatoon hypocritical

#C6 of Information Items (Page 659)
April 16, 2007, Saskatoon City Council Online Agenda

The agenda for Saskatoon City Council’s April 16, 2007, meeting includes a letter from Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall thanking the City Clerk for sending him a copy of the City Solicitor’s report on the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA).

The letter, dated March 19, 2007, states:

“The Saskatchewan Party supports TILMA in principle because it is consistent with the growth agenda that we have called for. That being said, a Saskatchewan Party government would not sign on to the agreement unless certain it was in the best interests of Saskatchewan people. It would be in the best interest of the Saskatchewan people if it removed barriers to growth without negatively impacting on the public ownership of the major Crowns, environmental standards in the province and well-being of workers.”

So according to Wall only three criteria would have to be met in order for his party to sign TILMA:

1) That it not negatively impact on the public ownership of the major Crowns
2) That it not negatively impact environmental standards
3) That it not negatively impact the well-being of workers.

Everything else it seems is fair game – municipal governments, school boards, social policies, health boards, education and a whole host of other things. This is important to know because TILMA's reach would extend far beyond the three areas listed in Wall's letter.

The conditions outlined in Wall’s letter should be taken with a grain of salt since he does not define what the Saskatchewan Party considers “negatively impact” to mean. Their idea of a workers well-being or environmental standard is likely to be quite different from that of someone who does not support the party and its conservative ideology.

Like the Conference Board of Canada’s An Impact Assessment of TILMA (Sept. 2005) for the BC government, Wall’s letter makes no attempt to list the “barriers” he believes exist. Perhaps it’s because there really isn’t that many.

In an April 3, 2007, Saskatchewan Party news release leader Brad Wall himself said Saskatchewan has “fewer trade barriers and restrictions—than either B.C. or Alberta.”

Even the Conference Board grudgingly admits “There has been little research to date on the many interprovincial barriers to competition in Canada…No comprehensive listing of these barriers seems to exist…”

Wall has often quoted the Conference Board’s impact assessment, which was found deeply flawed by two analyses conducted independent of each other: The Myth of Interprovincial Trade Barriers and TILMA’s Alleged Economic Benefits (Feb. 2007) by Marc Lee & Erin Weir for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and; The Conference Board of Canada’s $4.8 Billion Estimate of the Impact of the BC-Alberta TILMA is not Credible (Apr. 2007) by Patrick Grady, a former senior official in the federal Department of Finance.

This does not appear to be good enough though for groups like the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) who shamelessly continue to cite the study’s findings to further its claims.

TILMA includes “exceptions” for labour standards and codes, minimum wages, employment insurance, social assistance benefits and assistance for academic research or to non-profit organizations, and environmental measures relating to hazardous and waste materials, but the fine print reveals that “the exceptions listed” will be reviewed annually “with a view to reducing their scope.”

TILMA’s hit list of so-called exemptions is meant to shrink over time. Wall and proponents of TILMA don’t seem to ever mention this. Perhaps they’d prefer people not know about it.

The hypocrisy of Wall’s letter is that he suggests his party only supports TILMA “in principle” and would not sign it unless “it was in the best interests of the Saskatchwan people.”

Wall’s comments and sudden transformation into a voice of moderation and reason is completely inconsistent with what he and his party have said in the past.

For the better part of 2006 the Saskatchewan Party and leader Brad Wall ridiculed and condemned NDP Premier Lorne Calvert for not being at the negotiating table with British Columbia and Alberta. Calvert was berated for not accepting former Alberta premier Ralph Klein’s invitation to get on board and sign the agreement.

British Columbia and Alberta negotiated TILMA behind closed doors. There were no public consultations, stakeholder meetings or legislative debate. TILMA was signed in secrecy.

This has been confirmed by others:

“We asked the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to share with us their position papers, research, etc. on the effect of TILMA on municipalities. We were advised that they have no such information. They were told of TILMA shortly before signing, and advised that they would be consulted during the two-year transition period. No consultations have occurred to date,” wrote Saskatoon city solicitor Theresa Dust in a February 2007 report to City Council.

“It is our understanding from a City of Burnaby council report that in British Columbia, leading up to TILMA, consultations were carried out by the Provincial Government with government departments and agencies, business groups, academic institutions and provincial regulatory bodies. No consultations were done with municipalities and no apparent analysis was done of the real impact of TILMA on municipalities,” Dust said.

In an April 14, 2007, letter to the Regina Leader-Post, Allan Earle, president of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association had this to say: “If the current or future Saskatchewan government develops a serious interest in TILMA, SUMA wants to be involved in the negotiations and not just “consulted” after a deal is done, as municipalities were treated in B.C. and Alberta.”

Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party wanted NDP Premier Lorne Calvert at the table in those closed-door meetings with British Columbia and Alberta.

Brad Wall and the Saskatchewan Party wanted Premier Calvert’s signature on the agreement which likely would have meant no public consultations, stakeholder meetings or legislative debate in Saskatchewan.

In that regard a Saskatchewan Party government under Brad Wall would have been no different than that of BC Premier Gordon Campbell or former Alberta Premier Ralph Klein. Secrecy would have prevailed.

The following is a selection of comments extracted from Saskatchewan Party material showing what appears to be the party’s unequivocal support of TILMA and its firm belief that Saskatchewan must be part of the agreement.

“Alberta and BC have made some serious progress in streamlining regulations between the two provinces in a precedent-setting agreement, the Alberta-British Columbia Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement,” [Saskatchewan Party Economic Development Critic Lyle] Steward said. “One of the key aspects of this agreement is the merging of standards so workers and professionals who are certified or licensed in one province can work in the other without having to recertify.”

Stewart said a Saskatchewan Party government would seek a similar agreement with other western provinces.
– Sask. Party Concerned Job Growth Not Sustainable With Population Losses, News Release, August 4, 2006

'Western Trade Pact Signed by B.C. and Alberta

Why isn't Saskatchewan part of this inter-provincial trade agreement? Doesn't the NDP want us to benefit like the province to our west? Alberta and B.C. each expect thousands of new jobs and a multi-billion dollar jump in economic activity...why wouldn't we want this, too? Brad Wall thinks we do.'
– The Horizon - The Saskatchewan Party Newsletter - Volume 4, Issue 4, Summer 2006

“Last month I had the welcomed opportunity to meet with Premier Ralph Klein.

“I wanted to ask him about the new trade agreement signed between Alberta and BC that economists say will add thousands of new jobs to their economies, attract $4.9 billion in new investment over the next number of years and create Canada’s second largest economic region.

“I informed Premier Klein that although he will soon be stepping down as Premier, that a Saskatchewan Party government would, on a priority basis, get to the table with Alberta and BC.”
– The New West and My Meeting with Premier Klein, Brad Wall, MLA Report, July 2006

“Our province can be a leader in the New West, with a strong voice and a strong presence along side our neighbours as they rip down trade barriers to encourage job creation,” [Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad] Wall said. “We need to be at that table, negotiating with our western partners.”

Wall, who on Monday met with Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, has committed to fast tracking Saskatchewan’s full partnership in the New West should the Saskatchewan Party win the next election.
– Anemic NDP Job Growth Numbers Mean Saskatchewan Is Dead Last in West, News Release, June 9, 2006

“The province of Saskatchewan should be there as a part of [the BC-Alberta] accord, not Johnny-come-lately, not maybe we’ll get to it if we work out into a national deal that also has to find the synergy between the Newfoundland economy and the Saskatchewan economy and the BC economy and the Alberta economy. That’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely ridiculous.

“And the Premier wants to know, what’s the difference between him and myself? What’s the difference between his party’s economic vision and our party’s economic vision? We believe this province should be leading the West. We believe we should be at this table. We believe we should be negotiating these kinds of interprovincial agreements.”
– Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall, Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan Hansard, May 18, 2006

“What we know today is that these two provinces have agreed to an interprovincial arrangement with respect to interprovincial trade that has the potential to attract money and people through new job creation to their areas.

“My question…is very simple. Did the Government of Saskatchewan not know about these discussions between our two western neighbours, BC and Alberta? Did they not know about the arrangements? If they did know about them, why didn’t they get to that table and represent Saskatchewan that deserves to be a leader within the new West, Mr. Speaker?”

“Why won’t this government now accept the invitation of the Premier of Alberta for other provinces to get on board, for this province, Saskatchewan, to be a leader in the new West, Mr. Speaker?”
– Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall, Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan Hansard, May 2, 2006

Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall wants to know why Saskatchewan is not part of a new agreement on inter-provincial trade between Alberta and British Columbia. Last Friday, the governments of Alberta and BC signed the Alberta-British Columbia Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement with the goal of making the two provinces the dominant economic region in Canada.

Today in the Legislature, Wall asked Lorne Calvert to explain why Saskatchewan wasn’t part of the new deal.

“We believe Saskatchewan should be a leader in the new west, to have a strong voice and presence in this arrangement,” Wall said. “If we want to be competitive, Saskatchewan needs to have a place in this trade pact. Instead, the NDP seems intent on turning Saskatchewan into an economic island.”

Premier Klein has said he hopes other western provinces see the potential of this agreement and sign on.

“The Saskatchewan Party believes we should accept this invitation to be a leader in the new west,” Wall said.
– Saskatchewan Party Calls On NDP To Join In Western Trade Pact, News Release, May 1, 2006

“At this table, British Columbia and Alberta are working to reduce barriers to trade interprovincially which the Conference Board of Canada says costs our country tens of billions of dollars.

“The question to the Premier is this: why wasn’t he there? Why wasn’t he at this table? Was he invited to be there? Was he invited to participate in this emerging new West? And if not, why not, Mr. Speaker?”
– Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall, Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan Hansard, May 1, 2006

“The Premier of Alberta informed me of high level meetings between his province and BC to look at ways of reducing inter-provincial barriers to growth and trade.

“Saskatchewan though invited …did not attend. That is going to change.

“I have tasked Sask. Party Cutknife-Turtleford MLA Michael Chisholm to focus exclusively on the opportunities of western economic cooperation so that we may send a clear but, unpretentious message to other western capitals that a new government in Saskatchewan means a leading partner for them in the emerging New West….and a strong new voice for Saskatchewan at the Council of the Federation of this country.”
– Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall, 2006 Regina Leader’s Dinner Speech, Queensbury Convention Centre, April 4, 2006

Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall says it's time for our province to be a leading partner in a new west.

“The Saskatchewan Party believes our province can and must be a leading partner in that new west," Wall said.

Wall announced that the Saskatchewan Party's MLA from Cutknife-Turtleford, Michael Chisholm will now focus exclusively on developing the opportunities that will come from western economic cooperation.

“We want to send a clear message to other western capitals that a new government in Saskatchewan will mean a leading partner for them in this emerging new west," Wall said.

“Inter-provincial trade barriers, regulations and barriers to growth will be the focus of this Saskatchewan Party initiative. We want to continue to build relationships with other western officials in the event that we are asked to form a new government in Saskatchewan.”
– Sask. Party Leader Brad Wall Says Saskatchewan Must Not Be Left Behind In The New West, News Release, March 3, 2006

“The Premier of Alberta informed me of high level meetings between his province and BC to look at ways of reducing inter-provincial barriers to growth and trade.

“Saskatchewan though invited …did not attend. That is going to change.

“I am announcing tonight that I have tasked Sask. Party Cutknife-Turtleford MLA Michael Chisholm to focus exclusively on the opportunities of western economic cooperation so that we may send a clear but unpretentious message to other western capitals that a new government in Saskatchewan means a leading partner for them in the emerging New West and a strong new voice for Saskatchewan at the Council of the Federation of this country.”
– Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall, 2006 Saskatoon Leader’s Dinner Speech, TCU Place, March 2, 2006

“I want Saskatchewan to work with our neighboring provinces and take a leadership role in the new west. I say today that a new Saskatchewan Party government will make this a top priority.

“When I met with the Premier of Alberta, he told me his province and BC were looking at ways of reducing inter-provincial barriers to trade and investment.

“But Saskatchewan was not at the table. That is going to change. I have already signaled that to the Premier and to many of those seeking to be the Premier of Alberta, and it has been warmly welcomed on every occasion.

“Later this year we will go to BC to make the same case for a new Saskatchewan and its role in the new west.”
– Saskatchewan Party Leader Brad Wall, Keynote Address: “It’s Never Too Late”, 2006 Saskatchewan Party Convention, Saskatoon, February 11, 2006

“I have spoken to many of those seeking to replace Mr. Klein in Alberta, and to Mr. Klein himself and they welcome the day when Saskatchewan will join Alberta and B.C. at the table to earnestly work together in areas of public policy including energy policy and the reduction of inter-provincial trade barriers.

“They are waiting. I have already told them that a Brad Wall government will be at that table.”
– Speech Delivered by Brad Wall, Leader of the Official Opposition Saskatchewan Party, North Saskatoon Business Association, Delta Bessborough, Saskatoon, December 8, 2005