TORONTO

Oui. Si. Ja. Tak.

Ontario is saying yes to a trade deal with the European Union after receiving assurances from the federal government that key industries such as dairy and cheese will be compensated.

“This deal is a positive one for Ontario,” Ontario Economic Development, Trade and Employment Minister Eric Hoskins said Friday.

“It will create an estimated 30,000 jobs in this province. It will give our companies improved access to the world’s largest single economic market with 500 million consumers and its $17-trillion (gross domestic product).”

The Ontario government, a large purchaser of pharmaceuticals, wanted full compensation for any increased costs on drugs as a result of the trade deal.

The province is still seeking some form of federal compensation for losses that might be sustained by the wine and spirits industry.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak said increasing access to the massive European market for Ontario companies makes a lot of sense.

“That means we can sell a lot more cars, we can sell a lot more of our hi-tech, a lot more of our environmental industry products, a lot more of our financial services. What does that tell me? A lot more jobs. We should be doing more of this,” Hudak said.

New Democrat MPP Peter Tabuns said his party will assess the deal to determine if the impact is positive for the province.

Tabuns called for the public to have a voice in the discussions both at the provincial and federal level.

“Obviously, we have concerns about agriculture. We’re concerned about milk producers, we’re concerned about the ability of provinces and cities to set their own purchasing policies,” Tabuns said.