Prairie provinces to harmonize transport regs & infrastructure

BRANDON, Man. — Manitoba and Saskatchewan have agreed to work together to streamline the flow of goods and services between the two provinces.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed late last week is intended to “harmonize the fundamentals of transportation” including governing regulations and infrastructure.

The agreement will reduce barriers in several key areas, including harmonization of several special permit conditions such as for turnpike doubles, oversize and overweight loads and maximum gross vehicle weight for certain transport truck configurations.

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger said the agreement is a response to the need for greater economic development in the region.

"By harmonizing our transportation regulations we can let the trucking industry flow more readily between the two jurisdictions,” he said. “We shouldn’t have to stop at the border to take weight off of a vehicle because the regulations are different on one side of the border than the other."

“We are delighted to see that there are some important measures that are addressed in this MOU,” says Bob Dolyniuk, executive director of the Manitoba Trucking Association. “We see this agreement as a good step towards further interprovincial harmonization that will have a positive impact on our members and on our industry.”

Dolyniuk said harmonization will create further productivity and efficiency gains for the trucking industry in Manitoba.

The MOU was signed by Manitoba’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Steve Ashton, and Saskatchewan’s Minister of Highways and Infrastructure Jim Reiter. The ministers had met in June 2010 to begin working toward greater transportation harmonization for greater regional competitiveness and efficiency.

In addition to the transportation agreement, the two provinces also struck MOUs on energy and emergency planning at their second annual joint cabinet meeting in Brandon last week.

Selinger said the agreements are an indication of what can happen when provinces work together to tackle issues.

"The MOU on transportation will lead to a smoother flow of goods and services,” he said. “The MOU on electricity will lead to an increased flow of electrical power between the two provinces. The MOU on emergency response will serve both provinces well in times of crisis."