About the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

By Bill Bennett

Kootenay East MLA

1. Canada is a trading nation. We depend largely on exports for the jobs we have.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s announcement that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement has been signed means Canada will have better access to 40% of the world economy and most of the fast-growing Asian economies.

2. The supply management sector in B.C. (dairy, eggs, chickens, turkeys) has been protected by the agreement and by creative new programs announced by PM Harper. The new access to Asian economies will provide a significant boost to our forestry, manufacturing, beef, agri-foods, seafood and other industries.

3. If Canada had not signed this agreement, nations like Australia that also supply Asia with metallurgical coal could have sought penalties within the agreement partners against Canada for our met coal exports, a huge blow to the Elk Valley coal industry. The TPP agreement is good for our region.

This message is funded by Bill Bennett

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