NationStates Jolt Archive

That's right, the two westernmost provinces in Canada are going to sign a trade agreement with eachother. It will make many standards universial between the two provinces and make many liscences valid in both.

Linkies:
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=466f8f39-c139-4f9d-9b0a-537b8bfcb6e3&k=2689
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2006OTP0082-000505.htm
http://www.gov.bc.ca/ecdev/popt/media_room/bc_ab_trade_investment_mobility_agreement.htm

Oops, I nearly forgot the all important "Discuss"

Is this good for BC? I mean, with the economical boom in Alberta, it's bound to have some kind of positive effect on BC...I just can't bring myself to trust Gordy.

do other Canadian provinces have similar deals?

Is this good for BC? I mean, with the economical boom in Alberta, it's bound to have some kind of positive effect on BC...I just can't bring myself to trust Gordy.
Well, Alberta's standards tend to be higher overall, which will probably help increase safety. It should mean cheaper goods for consumers too.

Schrandtopia']do other Canadian provinces have similar deals?

no. the federal government doesnt want the provinces to do stuff like this because it would circumvent its authority. This alone tells me its probably a great idea.

In anycase, BC(especially its NorthEast) and alberta are closely tied. Might as well strengthen that.

no. the federal government doesnt want the provinces to do stuff like this because it would circumvent its authority. This alone tells me its probably a great idea.

In anycase, BC(especially its NorthEast) and alberta are closely tied. Might as well strengthen that.
$50 says the govt doesn't know about this.
.
.
.
Wait a minute, Alberta has those huge oil surpluses. OK the government will know about this but will hesitate trying to remember what BC is.:p

$50 says the govt doesn't know about this.
.
.
.
Wait a minute, Alberta has those huge oil surpluses. OK the government will know about this but will hesitate trying to remember what BC is.:p

Ouch. Are we that worthless? :(

Maybe we should remind the feds that we are their closest port to Asia...guarded by fair trade activists, or that we've got lots of trees...guarded by hippies...

What are we here for again?

Ouch. Are we that worthless? :(

Maybe we should remind the feds that we are their closest port to Asia...guarded by fair trade activists, or that we've got lots of trees...guarded by hippies...

What are we here for again?
Gay rights?

Anyone want to see the highway difference between tax heavy BC and tax ight Alberta? I will drive out to the border and snap a picture..

Ouch. Are we that worthless? :(

Maybe we should remind the feds that we are their closest port to Asia...guarded by fair trade activists, or that we've got lots of trees...guarded by hippies...

What are we here for again?
Entertainment value.

Anyone want to see the highway difference between tax heavy BC and tax ight Alberta? I will drive out to the border and snap a picture..
Yes, I would.

Will do that for you Posi. the border is only a little ways away. If the weather is nice enough, I will zip out in the jeep(I have the hard top off).

I'm confused?

Aren't they the same country? How can they need trade deals?

I'm confused?

Aren't they the same country? How can they need trade deals?
Because it is Canada?

Speaking of BC and Alta trade, have you guys heard of this story?

*****

LEGAL ACTION CASTS SHADOW OVER PORT
By James Vassallo
The Daily News
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Pages One and Three

The Coast Tsimshian First Nation will proceed immediately with two court actions that may seriously impact the Prince Rupert Container Port expansion.

“Our members are extremely frustrated with the complete lack of interest from the federal government to negotiate as is required by law,” said Melakatla Chief Councillor Harold Leighton.

“We have a ‘prima facie’ case of aboriginal rights and title to the area of the port expansion and the federal government just continually refuses to recognize our rights.”

The Coast Tsimshian, comprising the nine Allied Tribes of Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams, threatened legal action last January but backed away in the hopes of reaching a deal with the newly elected federal government. The court actions are directed respectively at the Minister of Transportation and the Attorney General of Canada for failing to consult and accommodate the Coast Tsimshian and the Minister of Western Economic Diversification, Minister of Environment and the Prince Rupert Port Authority for a number of issues including WED’s $30 million grant to the project and alleged Canadian Environmental Assessment Act violations.

“The court actions filed earlier had been pending in hopes that negotiations with the federal government would go forward, but there has been no progress. The port is attempting to proceed without the federal government having resolved any negotiations, or any pending court action,” said Lax Kw’alaams Chief Councillor Garry Reece. “We are now at the point where court action against any expansion is our only option to protect our member’s aboriginal rights and title interests and we will be proceeding to court immediately.”

According to the Coast Tsimshian’s lawyer, they’ve simply run out of options to solve the dispute outside of court.

“Our client has been really reasonable for the last four weeks and it doesn’t seem to have gotten them anywhere,” said Ratcliffe and Co’s Gregory McDade. “We have to try other options.”

McDade said they hope to have a hearing date set in the next few days, although when that date will be is unknown. He would not elaborate as to whether or not an injunction would be sought to stop what development is currently going on.

“We’ll be going forward with a whole host of initiatives,” he said. “Things will unfold quickly.”

At this time, the port has ordered cranes, is expecting steel pilings any day and contractors are one site. Prince Rupert Port Authority president and CEO Don Krusel said the development must continue regardless of any legal action from the Coast Tsimshian.

“We have no choice but to continue construction and moving forward until such time as a court orders us to stop,” said the port boss.

“Any delays will compromise the project,”

Krusel explained that every effort has been made to meet the needs and concerns of the Coast Tsimshian.

“We’re very confident that the port authority and various federal government agencies have maintained an open and respectful dialogue with First Nations,” he said. “We have made every attempt to respond to any issues they’ve brought up.

“It is our understanding that a very favourable agreement was presented to the First Nations by the (last) government (and) it is our understanding that offer was reaffirmed by this federal government.”

The offer is understood to include employment opportunities, financial support for job and skills training, the creation of an Aboriginal employment coordinator to help band members realize these opportunities, and “significant funding” for Aboriginal businesses that would benefit from the port expansion. Krusel said that the port recognizes that the Coast Tsimshian have aboriginal rights and title issues, with the Canadian government concerning Prince Rupert harbour.

However, he adds that the dispute has nothing to do with the container port expansion and that the development should not be used in an attempt to leverage a solution at the expense of aboriginal and non-aboriginal people alike.

“We’re extremely concerned these actions will have negative consequences,” said Krusel.

“(They should not) put at risk (the development) for the sake of trying to resolve long standing land claims issues.”

It was announced in April 2005 that the federal government would contribute $30 million, the province $30 million, CN Rail $30 million, Maher Terminals (one of the East Coast’s premier container terminal operators) $60 million and the port $20 million to build phase one of the container terminal.

Phase one is scheduled to provide the terminal with capacity to handle 500,000 containers annually. The second phase would increase the capacity to two million containers by 2009.

*****

My town, BC, and the rest of Canada are going to be so screwed big time...

Because it is Canada?

You know, I'm embarrassed to admit it as I try and keep up on the intamural squables in the anglosphere, but I always assumed that canada - having parliamentry sovereignty - had free trade throughout the several provinces. I gather now that is not the case.

You know, I'm embarrassed to admit it as I try and keep up on the intamural squables in the anglosphere, but I always assumed that canada - having parliamentry sovereignty - had free trade throughout the several provinces. I gather now that is not the case.
It is free trade, technically. What they are trying to do is make it so that a person trained and living in Alberta could come across the borader and work in BC, and vise versa. It is mostly about reaching a compramise on standards so that a Albertan meets the minimum safety standards in BC and vice versa.

It is free trade, technically. What they are trying to do is make it so that a person trained and living in Alberta could come across the borader and work in BC, and vise versa. It is mostly about reaching a compramise on standards so that a Albertan meets the minimum safety standards in BC and vice versa.

Ah, I see. It's really about professional credentialism: not trade per se.

Yah. We have that crap in the states also. It's stupid. Aparently malpractice is Arkansas in different to NY. :rolleyes:

Ah, I see. It's really about professional credentialism: not trade per se.

Yah. We have that crap in the states also. It's stupid. Aparently malpractice is Arkansas in different to NY. :rolleyes:

Its especially stupid for some professions, like lawyers. It seems that every state has their own bar exam, and it requires knowledge of general laws that are almost never actually invoked. I was reading an article of how some well repsected law professor decided to move to California and then failed the bar exam three times, even though she had beent eaching at an ivy league school for some 20 odd years

Its especially stupid for some professions, like lawyers. It seems that every state has their own bar exam, and it requires knowledge of general laws that are almost never actually invoked. I was reading an article of how some well repsected law professor decided to move to California and then failed the bar exam three times, even though she had beent eaching at an ivy league school for some 20 odd years
Well the goal of this is to make it so that a lawyer who passedthe bar test in Alberta would be given credit for the bar test in BC at the same time.

Its especially stupid for some professions, like lawyers. It seems that every state has their own bar exam, and it requires knowledge of general laws that are almost never actually invoked. I was reading an article of how some well repsected law professor decided to move to California and then failed the bar exam three times, even though she had beent eaching at an ivy league school for some 20 odd years

Well lawyers are stupid however. So that wouldn't be dispositive. (Cal has the second hardest bar I think, after NY, and given that you don't need to be a lawyer to teach law, I can see how that can happen).

I'm more bothered about doctors and the like.

I'm confused?

Aren't they the same country? How can they need trade deals?

Oddly, the way them feds in Canada run things, trade is easier and cheaper across international borders than provincial borders. Like I said, I can Imagine the feds not being too happy about this.

They attempt to maintain inequities between provinces so they can leverage control on them.

For example, when you have health care problems in Alberta, but you live in BC, the alberta government bills the BC medical establishment. The feds want to control the health care system, but they dont want to run it. Then when a province decides to try make things more efficient, they yell about the death of health care.

When it comes down to it, the constitution states that healthcare is in the realm of the provinces. The fact that the feds are involved is just them meddling. They set policy, but are not accountable for sustainability.

That's right, the two westernmost provinces in Canada are going to sign a trade agreement with eachother. It will make many standards universial between the two provinces and make many liscences valid in both.

Linkies:
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=466f8f39-c139-4f9d-9b0a-537b8bfcb6e3&k=2689
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2006OTP0082-000505.htm
http://www.gov.bc.ca/ecdev/popt/media_room/bc_ab_trade_investment_mobility_agreement.htm

Oops, I nearly forgot the all important "Discuss"

*sigh* Just one step closer to the Independant nation of British Albertawantoba. Just listen to your masters in Ontario, and everything will be fine...

*sigh* Just one step closer to the Independant nation of British Albertawantoba. Just listen to your masters in Ontario, and everything will be fine...

It is a refreshing change to see that SOMEONE east of Manitoba understands!

*sigh* Just one step closer to the Independant nation of British Albertawantoba. Just listen to your masters in Ontario, and everything will be fine...
Ontario is one notice to British Albertawantoba.
I think we should have a referendum to change our name. I recommend Posi.

Oddly, the way them feds in Canada run things, trade is easier and cheaper across international borders than provincial borders. Like I said, I can Imagine the feds not being too happy about this.

They attempt to maintain inequities between provinces so they can leverage control on them.

For example, when you have health care problems in Alberta, but you live in BC, the alberta government bills the BC medical establishment. The feds want to control the health care system, but they dont want to run it. Then when a province decides to try make things more efficient, they yell about the death of health care.

When it comes down to it, the constitution states that healthcare is in the realm of the provinces. The fact that the feds are involved is just them meddling. They set policy, but are not accountable for sustainability.
How ownderfully cynacle of you.