It maybe isn't a massive long home run over the centre field wall, but it's a lot better than an accidental swinging bunt single or a strike out.
The leaders of three western provinces have looked at the problem, and to stay consistent with the baseball metaphor, they have perhaps hit a double down the line and are now asking the other Canadian provinces if they are interested in bringing an internal free-trade agreement runner home.
Saskatchewan's Brad Wall, met with Alberta and B.C. premiers Dave Hancock and Christy Clark, and they opened up their minds and idea bank during a recent first minister's conference.
It has been pointed out on numerous occasions that it is more difficult for Canadian businesses to do business in Canada than it is to do business with the United States, Australia, Germany, Argentina or practically any other country you wish to name, outside of North Korea.
We have more silly trade restrictions imposed by self-interested governments and mini-governments than we have sensible ones. Or, as Wall put it so succinctly, it is time to rid ourselves of the stupid things that hold up otherwise sensible inter-provincial trade agreements.
There can be a trade agreement, where everything is in, and then you negotiate the stuff that is going to be out, said Wall, speaking on behalf of the new-look team that was attending the Council of the Federation meeting in Charlottetown last week.
The three premiers said they're anxious to open up, rather than close down trade among the three provinces and invited others, especially those provinces that appeared to be on the same page, such as Manitoba and Quebec, to join them.
The new approach could eliminate silly regulations regarding interprovincial trucking, as one simple example. A single window with upgraded regulation, not reduced and multi-layered regulations, might be the new path to go.
A little liberalizing of trade among the provinces can go a long way toward strengthening all of them, while removing localized and petty jealousies as unnecessary protective policies that give no one an advantage over the long haul.
Dispute resolutions are possible if the players are all in agreement on the big package and big picture. Health and safety regulations and skill training certifications can be smoothed out to eliminate the "stupid," as Wall put it, while making room for effective regulations and certification that would apply across the nation. Common sense, not lower standards, needs to prevail, and we applaud Wall, Clark and Hancock for taking the necessary steps by putting the ball into play.
It seems federal Industry Minister John Moore wants the same thing, so that can only bode well for the current players, even as we head into a new election campaign. If these leaders can get some momentum behind the concept, it could be strong enough to keep going, even through an election cycle. Some good ideas just can't be stopped by narrow-minded campaign rhetoric. They take on a life of their own because they deserve it.
We see where B.C. and Saskatchewan have already started the ball rolling with an upcoming agreement on moving wines and other spirits across borders, unimpeded by stupid regulations. Starting with a deal on booze may not be a bad thing in this instance.
If we have free trade with over 40 countries, don't you think it's about time we had an internal free trade agreement among 10 provinces and three territories?
