Houston promises at Doug Ford campaign rally to remove trade barriers for Nova Scotia
CBC
Premier Tim Houston announced Thursday in Ontario that he plans to introduce legislation to make trade between Nova Scotia and other provinces and territories easier.
During a surprise appearance at a campaign rally for Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford, Houston said he'll table a bill called the Free Trade and Mobility Within Canada Act when he returns to Nova Scotia.
"This bill will set in legislation that any goods approved in any province or territory can be sold in Nova Scotia without any further testing, red tape or foolishness," Houston said.
CBC News requested an interview with Houston but had not received a response by the time of publication.
A media advisory from the premier's office on Wednesday said Houston was in Washington, D.C., for meetings to discuss trade but did not mention he would be appearing at the campaign event in Ontario.
Nova Scotia's opposition leaders agreed that it's time to address interprovincial trade barriers, but they questioned Houston's surprise stop in Ontario.
"I would like to see the premier in the legislature for the few days that we sit, or where he says he's going to be," said NDP Leader Claudia Chender, referring to the trip to Washington that Houston's office advertised.
She said announcing a piece of legislation in another province shows Houston's "disregard for Nova Scotians and for democracy."
"This is where we make law. This is the people's House," Chender told reporters at Province House on Thursday.
Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette highlighted that his party tabled legislation earlier this week to address internal trade barriers.
"It's something that we support," he said of Houston's general aim. "But again, this is the time to table it. We're in the legislature now. I don't think he needed to go to Ontario to make that move."
Houston and Ford called Thursday for more to be done to remove interprovincial trade barriers as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens Canada with potential tariffs.
"How can it be easier to sell in another country than another province? It's absolutely ridiculous," Houston said at the rally in Milton, Ont.
He said he has a lot of confidence in Ford and his team to help remove trade barriers.
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