Alberta’s Ed Stelmach will talk trade concerns and try to ignore the fact his provincial pockets are bulging with energy loot when he meets with western premiers at a conference today in Prince Albert, Sask.
Stelmach will be trying to pitch the idea of removing trade barriers. He says the economic downturn in the U.S. is putting pressures on Canada, but with all of the premier’s backing his plans to end trade barriers, the western provinces could be an economic powerhouse for the rest of the country.
“We should be focused on reducing the often, very ridiculous trade and mobility barriers…,” said Stelmach. Stelmach’s Tory government recently made a similar agreement with British Columbia.
Alberta’s premier faces major challenges as he promotes carbon capture as a way of dealing with the spectre of climate change. B.C., and Manitoba support a cap-and-trade emissions system as the best way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
