EDMONTON, Alta. — The premiers of Alberta and B.C. will have an opportunity to discuss with their peers the finer points of the trade deal the provinces engaged in last month.

Premiers of Canada’s western provinces gathered in Manitoba for a three-day meeting recently to discuss federal/provincial relations, pandemic preparedness, green energy and other issues.

The Alberta/B.C. Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) was designed to streamline regulations and licensing agreements in the two provinces across a variety of industries including transportation.

Signed on April 28, the TILMA was the result of the fourth annual joint cabinet meeting between the two provinces. In signing the agreement the two provinces created the second largest economic trading region in Canada.

At the time of the signing both Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell hinted towards a new standard for provincial relations.

“Our provinces have set a new standard for what interprovincial trade can and should look like,” noted Klein at the time of the signing.

As the heads of the western provinces meet in Gimli on Lake Winnipeg, the premiers will have an opportunity to showcase their agreement. A number of western U.S. governors were also invited to attend the meeting to discuss mutual issues.

— with files from the Edmonton Sun