By Sarah Rae

Battlefords-Lloydminster MP hopeful about Canada-US relations

Nov 11, 2016 | 7:00 AM

Days after the U.S. election, Battlefords-Lloydminster MP and standing committee on international trade member Gerry Ritz is focused on what a Donald Trump presidency will mean for trade. 

“I’m more than happy to continue working at my level with the contacts I have in the U.S. to make sure Canadian products and American products move unfettered across that great border we have,” he said. 

Ritz said a possible benefit of Trump’s presidency is support of the Keystone XL pipeline.

“We weren’t able to get that through with President Obama, so hopefully that will be reinvigorated and that will be a huge boon to the Battlefords area,” he said.

Talk of tearing up the NAFTA trade agreement is a campaign promise Ritz said he hopes won’t get far her.

Fond Memories

North Stars' 20-year-olds reflect on junior hockey experience: Part 2

19h ago

Fond Memories

North Stars' 20-year-olds reflect on junior hockey experience: Part 1

Apr 18, 2024

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

Apr 17, 2024

He said he’s not opposed to opening up the agreement to address some issues, as long as Canada still has free and fair access to the U.S.

The Republican win didn’t surprise Ritz. He said a lot of his contacts in the U.S., though not entirely supportive of Trump, didn’t disagree with his concept of changing the way government operates.

He said he’s hopeful the Trump government will see the benefit of close ties with Canada so they can continue a productive relationship.

Sarah Rae is battlefordsNOW’s court and crime reporter. She can be reached at Sarah.Rae@jpbg.ca or tweet her @sarahjeanrae.