Protecting Alberta’s Economy Through Fair Trade
Today in the House of Commons, I addressed Bill C‑13—the legislation to implement the United Kingdom’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans‑Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). My Conservative colleagues and I support free and fair trade. Canada is a trading nation, and expanding high‑standard agreements can strengthen our economy—if Canadians receive fair, reciprocal access in return. Bill C‑13 is now at Report Stage after committee study, where MPs added a new requirement for Parliament to review how the UK’s accession is working every three years. That accountability measure matters, because results—not headlines—are what count for Albertans and for Canadians.
Over the past few years, Canada and the UK have operated under a Trade Continuity Agreement following Brexit. During this period, Alberta’s beef and pork producers have faced non‑tariff, non‑science‑based barriers in the UK market—on issues such as recognized carcass‑wash methods and growth promotants—while UK exports continue into Canada. Fair trade means fixing these barriers so our producers can sell into the UK on the same terms as UK producers sell into Canada. Approving the UK’s CPTPP entry without securing progress on these long‑standing obstacles is not a negotiating win for Canadian agriculture, particularly for Alberta’s world‑class ranchers and farmers.
I also spoke about competitiveness at home. Inflation and a weakening dollar distort the government’s rhetoric about “doubling” trade: nominal growth is not the same as real growth. Meanwhile, investment is increasingly seeking predictable, competitive jurisdictions. Trade agreements can’t do all the work—regulatory certainty, fiscal responsibility, and timely project approvals are essential if Canada and Alberta are to regain our investment edge.
UK State Pensions for Residents in Canada
While discussing Canada–UK relations, I also flagged a fairness issue affecting many families in our communities: UK State Pensions are not indexed (“uprated”) for pensioners who live in Canada, even though they are uprated in countries such as the United States and across the European Economic Area. The UK government’s own guidance confirms that pensioners in Canada do not receive annual increases. There are over 100,000 UK pensioners living in Canada impacted by this policy, which leaves many retirees falling behind with the cost of living year after year. As we deepen our trade relationship with the UK, I believe Canada should continue to advocate for fair treatment of these residents—many of whom contributed to the UK system for decades—just as we push for fair market access for our Canadian producers.
Where I Stand
I want Alberta’s farmers, ranchers, energy innovators, and workers to win from international trade. That means securing reciprocal access and holding the government to account for outcomes. With the committee’s new three‑year review built into Bill C‑13, Parliament will have a formal lever to track whether the UK’s CPTPP membership is delivering real benefits—for agriculture, for advanced manufacturing, for services, and for the families affected by the UK pension policy.
You can watch my full remarks in the video above. I will keep pressing for fair trade that delivers real results for Alberta and for Canada.
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