B.C. premier tours fish market to highlight support for Trans-Pacific trade deal

VICTORIA – B.C. Premier Christy Clark expressed her support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal during a visit Wednesday to a fish market.

Clark said the Finest at Sea market and its employees are among those who will benefit if the federal Liberal government ratifies the trade deal with Japan, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and potential growing markets in Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore.

She says the deal will allow Canadian goods to compete in a marketplace of about 800 million people.

In a letter to International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, Clark’s government is calling on Ottawa to ratify the deal.

Clark’s Liberal government also introduced a motion in the legislature endorsing the deal.

Opposition NDP Leader John Horgan says the public deserves a greater say on the trade deal beyond the premier’s endorsement.

“I’m proposing she take the opportunity to actually ask the public what they think, not to come out of her private meetings and say, ‘This is going to be grand for everyone,’ ” he said.

Clark says if it’s ratified, the agreement would mean more jobs and opportunities.

“We can’t forget international trade is our bread and butter here in B.C.,” she said. “It’s how we built our economy.”