‘Solid foundation’ to build on, Goodale says of Canada-U.K. ties

Canada’s new high commissioner to the United Kingdom has arrived at his new post, where he hopes to build on “an incredibly good relationship.”

“It’s a relationship that’s built on a lot of personal friendships and family connections but also long history, a shared form of government, a shared monarch,” Ralph Goodale said Tuesday.

“(There are) lots of common values (and) lots of common interests that we have worked on together for decades and decades and decades. It’s a very solid foundation but the relationship can always get better.”

Last week, the longtime Regina MP was appointed to the job, which is a diplomatic position within the Commonwealth akin to an ambassador.

Speaking to the Greg Morgan Morning Show, Goodale said one of his main tasks will be helping to negotiate a new trade agreement with the U.K.

Now that Britain has left the European Union, the countries must now hammer out a bilateral deal.

As is, Goodale said there’s “a healthy arrangement,” with Saskatchewan products like wheat, pulses, animal feed and protein concentrates enjoying access to the British market.

But he said the “good flow of business” could still be improved.

“The thing I think we want to avoid is what they call the tyranny of small differences,” Goodale said.

“We have regulatory provisions, the United Kingdom has regulatory provisions and they’re not consistent with each other. And that blocks trade, it slows it down, it makes it more expensive (and) opportunities are lost.”

Goodale said there needs to be a way to harmonize regulations without compromising health or safety.