Agreement on Internal Trade

The Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) was signed on July 18, 1994 by the First Ministers of all 10 provinces, two territories (Yukon and Northwest Territories) and the federal government (referred to as “Parties” in the context of the AIT) and came into force on July 1, 1995.  The third Protocol of Amendment came into force on July 1, 1999 and extended the provisions of the AIT to the MASH sector entities (municipalities, municipal organizations, school boards and publicly-funded academic, health and social service entities).  The AIT was established to provide a framework to reduce and eliminate barriers to the inter-provincial movement of goods, services, labor and investment, and to bring about a more open and stable domestic trade within Canada.  The AIT is an evolutionary process that requires ongoing negotiations and adjustments in order to further liberalize trade throughout the Canadian economy.

Guiding Principals of the AIT were agreed to by all Parties and are included in Six General Rules which prevent governments from erecting new trade barriers and which require the reduction of existing rules in areas covered under the Agreement.  The Rules include:

1. Reciprocal Non-Discrimination
2. Right of Entry and Exit
3. No Obstacles
4. Legitimate Objectives
5. Reconciliation
6. Transparency

 

Chapter 5 (Procurement)

Chapter 5 of the AIT sets out a framework and defines the rules for public procurement, which are based on the guidelines principals found in the Six General Rules and applies to tenders where the procurement value equals or exceeds the certain amounts:

• $25,000 for goods
• $100,000 for services
• $100,000 for construction
• An Information Bulletin that provides an overview of the provisions applicable to Government entities is available here:

 

Agreement on Internal Trade - Procurement

For MASH sector entities the thresholds are:

• $100,000 for goods
• $100,000 for services
• $250,000 for construction
• An Information Bulletin that provides an overview of the provisions applicable to MASH sector entities is available here:

Agreement on Internal Trade - MASH Annex

Full text of the AIT, Protocols of Amendments and related information may be obtained by contacting the Internal Trade Secretariat, or obtained on their web site at http://www.ait-aci.ca/index en.htm

Additional information on the internet sites used by governments to publish tender notices, rules for public sector procurement, complaint procedures, protocols of amendments and procurement contacts may be obtained on a host site called MARCAN, http://www.marcan.net/.

Contacts

Inquiries on Chapter 5 (Procurement) may be directed to

David Ash
Director
Procurement Services
2nd Floor – 270 Osborne Street N.
Winnipeg, MB R3C 1V7
Ph:  204-945-6368
Fax:  204-945-1455
David.Ash@gov.mb.ca

General Inquiries on all the Chapters of the AIT may be directed to

Alan Barber
Director, Policy, Planning and Coordination
Manitoba Competitiveness, Training and Trade
910-259 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3B 3P4
Ph:  204-945-8714
Fax:  204-945-1354
Alan.Barber@gov.mb.ca

General Inquiries may also be directed to

Anna Maria Magnifico
Executive Director
Internal Trade Secretariat
Suite 850, 444 St. Mary Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3C 3T1
Ph:  204-987-8094
Fax:  204-942-8460
amagnifico@ait-aci.ca