A Canadian icebreaker and research ship sits at the Port of Churchill in Manitoba in 2018. A new shipping route through Northern Manitoba to the port could open up valuable trade routes to global markets.
Opinion: Manitoba holds the key to nation building in Canada
Excerpt from the Globe and Mail.
Dr. B. Mario Pinto is a vice-president (research and international) at the University of Manitoba.
Donald Trump’s insistent focus on tariffs and trade rebalancing represents a serious challenge for Canada.
In responding to calls for action, individual Canadians have been boycotting American goods and travel and rallying around the “Buy Canadian” mantra. Nationally, easing or removing inter-provincial trade barriers, diversifying our trading partners, and initiating large-scale, national infrastructure projects to ensure our resources and products can flow readily across Canada (and reach global markets) has been in the spotlight.
The House of Commons recently passed Bill C-5, or the Building Canada Act. In his speech announcing the legislation’s passage through the House, Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted his vision for advancing nation-building projects in order to strengthen Canada’s economy.
However, it will be challenging to rally and sustain public backing and the support of all provincial and territorial governments. For example, there is no clear consensus on expanding existing energy pipelines or building new ones to transport energy products to tidal water. In B.C., Premier David Eby is focused on maximizing the TransMountain pipeline before considering additional infrastructure between Alberta and Prince Rupert, B.C. Quebec Premier François Legault has committed only to studying any proposed projects going through his province.
Read the full article at The Globe and Mail.
Research at the University of Manitoba is partially supported by funding from the Government of Canada Research Support Fund.