Following the federal government's success in striking a Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union, the conservative party's in full favour.

"We're very happy to see that the European Union has approved the Canada EU trade agreement," says Candice Bergen, MP for Portage-Lisgar. "We approved it in parliament a couple of weeks ago and are happy to see that the EU has also approved it. This is an agreement that was initiated by our conservative government under Stephen Harper. We have been big supporters of it and really advanced Canada's trade agreements with other countries."

The European Union is comprised of 28 member-states. Bergen notes this means Manitoba will see its agriculture, aerospace and fish exports gain a potential 500-million new customers.

Bergen adds, "Between 2009 and 2011 Manitoba exported an average of $10-million worth of fresh fish to the EU. So, when CETA comes into force, nearly 96 percent of all tariff lines will be removed. And within seven years 100 percent of those tariffs will be duty-free.  When it comes to agriculture, between 2009 and 2011 we exported about $154-million a year to the EU. Again, when this agreement comes into force, 93.6 percent of all those tariff lines will be set at zero percent."