Minister Smith to Bring Open for Business Message to Committee on Internal Trade

TORONTO—Today Todd Smith, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, issued the following statement on attending the 2019 Committee on Internal Trade in Halifax as part of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA):

 

"I look forward to meeting with my federal and provincial counterparts to discuss ways we can reduce internal trade barriers and make it easier for Ontario companies, along with those from other provinces and territories, to do business in other Canadian markets.

 

We are committed to protecting and creating good jobs for the people of Ontario, and that starts with getting government out of the way of job creators. We are focused on eliminating unnecessary barriers to trade so consumers across Canada have access to the quality goods and services that Ontario is known for. During the meeting, I will focus on several key initiatives being pursued under the CFTA that will help Ontario strengthen trade and investment with other provinces and territories, including efforts to reduce red tape, eliminate trade barriers protected under the CFTA and negotiate new trade rules that would apply to the financial services sector.

 

By eliminating unnecessary restrictions, we can grow our economy and businesses right here at home. My message will be clear: Ontario is open for business and committed to cutting red tape for businesses within our borders and beyond."

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.