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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
VICTORIA
– Economic Development Minister Colin
Hansen introduced legislation today to implement the Trade, Investment and
Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) between British Columbia and Alberta.
“Implementation marks a major step that will
help the TILMA realize its great potential to encourage freer trade and support
economic vitality,” Hansen said. “This legislation strengthens the ability of
the agreement to provide a fair and effective framework to build
interprovincial co-operation and bring mutual benefit.”
The
Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Implementation Act will enable B.C. to
exercise its rights and fulfil its commitments under the groundbreaking trade
agreement. By providing effective dispute resolution procedures and
establishing a right of appeal, including judicial review of panel decisions,
the legislation will help the TILMA become a powerful instrument to support and
sustain economic growth in Canada’s two westernmost provinces.
Since
the TILMA was signed in April 2006, British Columbia and Alberta have agreed on
a number of measures designed to allow a freer movement of people and services
across the provincial boundary. These agreements support: equal access to both
provinces by licensed charter buses; information sharing and joint
participation in energy research; technology development and innovation;
co-operative planning and management of adjoining provincial parks along the
border; and collaborative approaches to advance the quality of post-secondary
education in both provinces, through credit transfer and distance education
programs.
The
Province has also made progress over the last year working with organizations
representing many occupations to achieve agreement on cross-border recognition
of licensed practitioners. These agreements cover physicians, registered
nurses, health-care providers, architects, and skilled tradespersons.
Striving
to reduce and eliminate barriers to the free movement of workers, goods,
services and investments, the TILMA came into force on April 1, 2007. Canada's
most comprehensive interprovincial trade agreement, the TILMA creates a market
of more than 7.7 million people – the nation's second largest economy.
More
information on TILMA is available at www.tilma.ca and on the Ministry of Economic
Development’s website at www.gov.bc.ca/ecdev.
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contact: |
Communications Director 250 952-0152 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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