Manitoba's now a member of the New West Partnership with Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC.

Premier Brian Pallister made that announcement yesterday. The partnership allows business, labour, and investment to flow more freely, and reduces barriers to inter-provincial sales with the other western provinces.

Pallister says joining the pact will produce benefits.

"I think there are some clear beneficiaries in early days, in the trucking industry in particular. We've heard from the trucking associations over a number of years about impediments to their business, with confusing regulations, and this is just one example. Agri-food opportunities as well. The service industries that are growing in Manitoba have tremendous potential, I think, to grow."

Pallister says the move to join New West is a big step in the direction of a national trade agreement.

"This is the gold standard of trade agreements, as you know, and one that sets a standard, I think, that's helped us in Manitoba, certainly since I became premier, to push forward the agenda of reducing barriers among all Canadian provinces. Certainly, that would be the goal that we aspire to, but the New West Partnership sets that standard higher."

Pallister says Manitoba's business community is always ready to compete.

"We have a very innovative, entrepreneurial population here, and I'm sure that the people of Manitoba are going to find all kinds of exciting ways to benefit by the reduction of barriers that have been there between us and other potential markets. We're talking about a third of Canada, now, with this trading association."

The former N-D-P government refused to join the New West Partnership, in favour of focusing on a national trade agreement instead.