P.E.I. ready to open borders for government contract bids

The P.E.I. government is ready to sign a deal to remove provincial borders for bidding on government contracts, says Economic Development Minister Heath MacDonald.

The internal trade deal would open P.E.I. government tenders to bidders from across Canada, but would also allow P.E.I. companies to seek work from other provincial governments, and hopefully the federal government as well.

"We have companies right now that would like to be doing work in other provinces and sometimes there's limitations or regulations that don't allow them to bid on those contracts," said MacDonald.

"We want the Government of Canada too to open up their procurements right across the country for any business in Prince Edward Island or anywhere. You know, we're pushing the envelope but we feel that this agreement could even help some of our companies do even better."

MacDonald was at negotiations in Toronto Friday trying to finalize the deal before Canada's premiers meet later this month.

MacDonald expects the deal would also ease restrictions on the amount of alcohol that can be taken from one province to another, an issue he says has been sensitive for some provinces.

Last week, New Brunswick's trade minister told CBC alcoholic beverages would not be part of the new deal.

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