Manitoba Opposition Tories agree to speed passage of free trade bill before break
Posted June 2, 2025 5:37 pm.
Manitoba politicians are speeding passage of a bill to reduce interprovincial trade barriers before the legislature summer break begins.
The bill, based on a deal with Ontario, would remove trade barriers for some goods and services between Manitoba and other jurisdictions with similar laws.
The NDP government wanted it passed quickly, without public hearings, as part of a national response to tariffs imposed by the United States.
The Opposition Progressive Conservatives initially rejected demands to quickly approve the bill and unsuccessfully proposed amendments to broaden it.
But they have now agreed to have the bill passed into law before the summer break begins tonight.
More than 30 other bills are expected to be passed into law this evening, including one to enact income tax changes announced in the spring budget.
