Manitobans favour pulling down internal trade barriers
A national issues poll conducted across Canada finds Manitobans are very favourable to eliminating trade barriers between provinces. The poll, by Environics, in partnership with the Canada West Foundation, surveyed 5,732 Canadians between December, 2018 and January, 2019.
On the topic of internal trade barriers, respondents were specifically asked if the national rules on trade should allow provinces to favour local businesses – also known as ‘local preference.’
Only 28% of Manitobans agreed with local preference, falling on the low range (Ontario was lowest at 22%) and below the national average of 30%. Saskatchewan (34%) and Quebec (46%) preferred favouring local businesses, as did respondents in the territories.
“Those of us engaged in heavy construction know the intrinsic value that reliable, modern core infrastructure has to robust trade and a healthy economy,” MHCA President Chris Lorenc said. “Manitobans, living in a trade-dependent province, generally know this too, so it is not surprising that when asked, they largely support open borders and free trade – especially with other Canadians.”
Canadians were also asked a series of questions about whether they trusted the provincial or federal government most to handle issues of energy, health care, climate change, economy/jobs and immigration. While no level of government elicited majority support on any of the issues, the federal government came out ahead on immigration and climate change, with the provinces favoured on the other three items.
“This is suggestive of a lack of consensus on these questions, and, perhaps more importantly, a preference for a more collaborative rather than a one-sided approach to managing the federation,” the report, Making Federalism Work, notes. “Simply put, Canadians do not have a one-sided preference when it comes to how issues should be managed in the federation: it depends both on the issue and where in the country they live, and even then, no option attracts the support of the majority.”
Although many fewer respondents were “strongly” in favour of equalization, compared to past surveys, 74% supported the national program for transfers to the country’s ‘have-not’ provinces, of which Manitoba is one.
And, like respondents across Canada, Manitobans replied that the wealth of natural resources should be shared nationally. “Only in Alberta does the proportion saying that resource royalties belong solely to the province (33%) clearly outweigh the proportion saying they are part of the whole country’s wealth (25%).” Even in Alberta, however, opinion was hedged, with the largest response (37%) being “it depends.”
Lorenc said the sentiments expressed in the survey indicate that while Canadians may have regional loyalties and differences, ultimately they strongly see themselves as a country, and that the country is stronger for sharing the wealth and balancing needs.
“The primary need right now is successful development of pipelines to get our resources to broader markets, through appropriate, meaningful consultation with the First Nations affected and through inter-provincial cooperation – again sharing national wealth.”
