BURNABY—CUPE BC congratulates the Saskatchewan government for its decision to reject any plans of joining the B.C. and Alberta Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA), the union said today.
Citing the TILMA’s too-broad scope, unanswered questions and lack of certainty about being able to include Saskatchewan’s concerns if B.C. or Alberta doesn’t agree, Government Relations Minister Harry Van Mulligen called the TILMA too risky for Saskatchewan.
“This is a very encouraging development,” CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill said, after learning of the decision.
“It speaks to the very real scepticism that’s out there about the TILMA and the many ways it undermines local autonomy and erodes democracy. The TILMA is not so much a trade agreement as a corporate enablement agreement.”
After initially expressing interest in the deal, even the opposition Saskatchewan Party rejected the TILMA in June, partly because of the threat it posed to the autonomy of the Saskatchewan government.
Instead of joining the TILMA, the Saskatchewan government intends to continue working through the 1995 Agreement on Internal Trade to address the minor regulatory impediments that exist in inter-provincial trade and labour mobility.
“Let’s hope other provinces follow suit and show the courage and foresight the Saskatchewan government did today,” said O’Neill.
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Contact: Barry O’Neill, CUPE BC president: (604) 340-6768
Dan Gawthrop, CUPE Communications: (604) 999-6132
Other links:
”Saskatchewan Announces Agenda for Internal Trade,” August 1, 2007
“Sask. won’t join Alberta-B.C. trade deal,” August 1, 2007
“Sask. Party says it won’t sign trade deal,” June 29, 2007