REGINA–Canada's premiers are firmly behind Prime Minister Stephen Harper in his bid to counter protectionist trade policies being adopted in the U.S.

In a rare show of unity, premiers of all political stripes yesterday vowed to help Harper as he fights the so-called Buy America provisions being applied by American state and local governments that prevent Canadian companies from bidding on projects funded by President Barack Obama's $787 billion (U.S.) stimulus package.

Harper is to meet with Obama on Sunday in Mexico, and with the premiers' endorsement in hand, he is expected to tell the president Canada is ready to move ahead in the effort to neutralize the Buy America problem. This will lay the groundwork, sources say, for International Trade Minister Stockwell Day to send a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk next week indicating that Ottawa is ready to begin bilateral negotiations aimed at solving the issue.

Premier Dalton McGuinty said it's essential the premiers give Harper a "strong hand" for the meeting with the U.S. president and Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Guadalajara, Mexico.

"We cannot escape our interdependence. This is an era of globalization. We're in this together," McGuinty said at the annual Council of the Federation meeting.

"The appeal that we have to make to our American cousins is one based on their enlightened self-interest," said the Ontario Liberal.

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer, a New Democrat, strongly opposed calls from unions for retaliatory Buy Canada policies to protect Canadian jobs.

"We have to back up our prime minister and I believe all premiers will," said Doer.

"We should back Canada up by ensuring that it's clear that we have nothing to fear on procurement in provinces and municipalities and we want access to states and cities in the United States," he said.

Quebec Liberal Premier Jean Charest criticized Obama for failing to live up to trade agreements designed to prevent discriminatory policies against Canadian firms.

"If they cannot on this issue come to an agreement with their major trading partner, their ally, their friend, their neighbour, then what does that say about the Americans' attitude worldwide?" said Charest.

"We will speak forcefully and we will speak with great determination on this issue, but we will also do it having in mind that the Americans will have a test in front of them

British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell said the onus is on Canadian jurisdictions not to respond with similar trade sanctions.

"We have to speak with one voice and we have to act. We can't say to Americans: `have no exceptions, make an exception for Canada,' make sure we have free open access to their markets. We still have work to do in Canada," said Campbell.

Darrell Dexter, Nova Scotia's newly elected NDP premier, distanced himself from a crusade by the Canadian Labour Congress, Canadian Auto Workers, and other groups to attach Buy Canada conditions to domestic infrastructure funding.

"We're looking at protecting Canadian jobs that are in manufacturing, that are in technology industries that need access to that marketplace in order to be successful," said Dexter.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said "working people, whether they're unionized or not, benefit" from freer trade in exporting nations like Canada.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

But the nationalist Council of Canadians recommended that "Canadian governments should increase and speed up funding for public infrastructure projects and attach `Buy Canadian' conditions to this funding."

With files from Les Whittington

Read more about: