Manitoba premier accuses Saskatchewan of flip-flop on trade

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger says his Saskatchewan counterpart has done a complete flip-flop on trade.

Selinger says Brad Wall has long said he is in favour of free trade, yet has engaged in protectionism by signing onto a regional trade deal with Alberta and British Columbia.

That deal the New West Partnership is aimed at reducing trade and labour barriers between the three westernmost provinces.

Manitoba did not sign on, and now some Manitoba companies are finding themselves shut out of contracts in the West.

Zac Penner, who manages a construction company in Manitoba, says he is looking at setting up a satellite office and perhaps moving operations to Saskatchewan so he can secure contracts.

Wall has said the trade deal is not protectionist, but rather is an example of a higher level of free trade that could serve as a model for a national trade agreement.