U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the USMCA signing ceremony on Nov. 30, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Official White House Photo/ Shealah Craighead

Several major industry groups are calling for the House of Commons to quickly ratify the new North American trade deal.

The Grain Growers of Canada (GGC), which represents over 65,000 farmers, said in a press release that ratification means Canadian farmers can begin “experiencing the benefits of stable, reliable trade with the USA and Mexico.”

“By signing this historic agreement, the Government of Canada is committing to a meaningful upgrade to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and ensuring our North American market access is preserved,” GGC chair Jeff Nielsen said in the release.

The GGC also said the trade deal will remove legal barriers that prevent grain grown in the U.S. from being treated equally here in Canada — a longstanding request from grain farmers on both sides of the border.

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce echoed that sentiment in a recent statement. The group, which lobbies the government on behalf of some 200,000 businesses, wants the deal between Canada and two of its most important trade partners solidified as soon as possible. The trade deal, the Chamber said, represents a good outcome overall for the Canadian economy even if not all aspects of the agreement were perfect for every sector of the economy.

“[It] is crucial for businesses that this agreement is ratified in an expeditious manner,” the Chamber said in a press release. “Given the pressing trade issues facing the Canadian economy, we need to bring the CUSMA process to a close to enable the Canadian government and businesses to focus on efforts to diversify our export markets.”

Canada is the only country that has yet to approve the agreement, formally known as the United-States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA), after it was passed by both the U.S. Congress and Senate earlier this month, and Mexico granted its approval in June.

Amid a push from all three countries to have the trade deal finalized last month, the industry association for Canada’s beef farmers and feedlots, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) was the most active lobbying group on the federal scene last month.

Jennifer Babcock, government and food industry relations manager for the CCA, told iPolitics last week that the association was advocating for Canadian beef farmers and ranchers, adding that the new NAFTA was the main topic of discussion. She said the CCA was hoping “for a swift ratification when the House returns in January.”

“Ensuring trade access to various global markets is a top priority for the sector,” she said in a statement.

READ MORE: Cattlemen’s Association most active lobbying group on federal circuit in December

Speaking to reporters Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there would be debate and committee study on the new NAFTA in the House.

“We’re also going to focus on ratifying it quickly,” Trudeau added, speaking in French.

The Liberal government needs the support of at least one other party to pass legislation implementing USMCA through the House. Support may come easily as the Conservatives, holding the second-highest number of seats as the official opposition party, have already indicated support for the agreement. However, both the NDP and Bloc Quebecois have said they won’t fast-track the deal, saying they want debate and a committee study on the text of the agreement.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet also said the final version of the trade deal doesn’t provide the same protections for Quebec’s aluminum industry as it does for the steel industry and Ontario’s auto-manufacturing sector, citing this as a reason his party wouldn’t agree to speed the deal through the House.

READ MORE: Like Bloc, NDP want new NAFTA text examined before adopting trade deal

Trudeau said he hoped the Bloc would think of Quebecers’ interests and not just their political interests, noting that Quebec Premier François Legault said it was in the best interest of Quebecers to quickly ratify the new deal.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who played a key role in negotiating the agreement while serving as foreign affairs minister during the last Parliament, said the premiers of all provinces and territories met last week to support the speedy ratification of the new NAFTA.

Freeland also said the government understands the importance of parliamentary debate, as well as the rights and obligation for each member to understand the agreement. For this reason, she said the government’s team of professional negotiators would be at the disposal of all members of Parliament, including the members of the opposition.

“I hope that it will be possible to obtain the cooperation of all members of the House,” Freeland said. “We have great political differences, of course, but I know that every member in this House works for the benefit of their constituents and for the national interest.”

READ MORE: New NAFTA headed for ratification

In a press release, Patrick Sullivan, chair of the Canadian Global Cities Council, said trade uncertainty over the past year has negatively impacted business investment and as a result, economic growth. Sullivan said the agreement is a sign of international cooperation and commitment to free trade amid a time of trade tension.

“All parties must work together to ratify the agreement as quickly as possible and bring stability for Canadian business and investment,” he said in the release. “It would be reckless for Canadian politicians from any party to fuel this uncertainty by stalling the ratification of (USMCA).”

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities and FCM Big City Mayors, a subgroup within FCM, also urged Parliament to swiftly ratify USMCA.

“Municipalities in Canada, the United States and Mexico have an important stake in the ratification of the new NAFTA agreement,” FCM President Bill Karsten and FCM Big City Mayors’ Caucus Chair Don Iveson said in a joint statement. “We are economic engines for our countries, and the mutual benefits of a strong and fair economic partnership between all three countries are clear. Our free and fair trade partnership is critical to building globally competitive communities and a prosperous future.”