Manitoba NDP wants interprovincial trade bill passed before summer break

WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s governing New Democrats are hoping to rush a bill on interprovincial trade through the legislature before the summer break, but the Opposition Progressive Conservatives are not yet agreeing.

The bill, introduced last week, would remove trade barriers for some goods and services between Manitoba and other jurisdictions with similar laws.

There are exceptions to the Manitoba bill, such as goods and services provided by Crown corporations.

NDP house leader Nahanni Fontaine asked the Tories to agree to pass the bill immediately — a move that would bypass public hearings that are normally mandatory for all non-budget bills.

Tory house leader Derek Johnson says the NDP seem to be in a rush now after voting against an earlier private member’s bill from the Tories that did not exempt Crown corporations.

Fontaine says fast action is needed because of tariffs imposed by the United States, and Johnson says the Tories are willing to consider the idea if the NDP agrees to also pass some Tory bills.

The legislature is scheduled to break for the summer next Monday and not resume until Oct. 1.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press