Wynne government ‘thrilled’ with CETA signing

TORONTO—Kathleen Wynne’s Liberal government is welcoming the signing of the free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union.

International Trade Minister Michael Chan issued a statement Sunday night saying he was “thrilled” the accord has taken this “important step” toward implementation.

After seven years of tough negotiations, delays and deadline drama Prime Minister Justin Trudeau finally signed the Canada – European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in Brussels Sunday morning.

The deal still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament as well as the myriad governments of the nations involved.

But Chan says lowering trade barriers between Canada and the EU will eventually result in the creation of 30,000 new Ontario jobs and a $4.5 billion boost to the province’s GDP.

He notes Ontario’s exports to European Union countries totalled more than $19 billion dollars last year, making the EU the province’s second largest trading partner. And he says Ontario will continue to work closely with the federal government to ensure the province gets the maximum benefit from CETA.