Tories Unveil Déjà Vu Tariff Measure

(Jane Taber — Globe & Mail)

For the second consecutive day, the Harper government re-announced measures that were in last week’s budget, declaring today that Canada will become a tariff-free zone for manufacturers.

Again, this is old news but suggests an effort by the government to show it is busy and working while Parliament was shut down for six weeks. The measure, which eliminates more than 1,500 tariffs, will create 12,000 jobs, according to International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan.

Mr. Van Loan was joined by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. The two played up the budget measure, re-announcing that their move will make Canada more competitive and signal to other countries that “Canada is open for business.”

But Jason Myers, president of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association had said last week this will be a “pretty marginal benefit.” Read more here.