Memorandum of Agreement of the Reduction of Interprovincial Trade Barriers in Western Canada

Whereas the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (The Western Provinces) wish to:

• reaffirm the principles set out in the Intergovernmental Position Paper on Regional Development of June 1985 and in particular, the view that, as a general rule, increased interprovincial trade will lead to productivity improvements and enhanced economic activity in Canada:
• recognize at the same time the special development needs of certain regions and sectors of the economy:
• note the decision by First Ministers at their November 1987 Annual Conference to establish a Committee of Ministers on internal Trade thereby re-affirming and giving further direction to the initiative to reduce interprovincial barriers to trade:
• restate their commitment to promote opportunities for enhanced liberalization of procurement policies with the reduction or removal of barriers between provinces:
• reaffirm their commitment to the C ommon Procurement Principles in Support of Geographic Neutrality set out in the Report on public Sector Procurement Initiatives:

and Whereas The Western Provinces

• have agreed at the Western Premiers’ Conference in 1987 and again in 1988 to pursue and implement opportunities for cooperative action amongst themselves and have established a Ministerial Working Group for this purpose, and
• fully support the national efforts of the Committee of Ministers

On Internal Trade at interprovincial trade barrier reduction and wish to encourage those efforts by accelerating progress at a regional level: and Wbereas the Western Provinces wish to use their procurement activities to attract investment to Western Canada.