Manitoba companies could be shut out of some contracts in other western provinces under a regional trade deal that stops at the Saskatchewan boundary.
Manitoba is the only western province that did not sign on to the New West Partnership in 2010.
In recent weeks, the Saskatchewan government has started expressing preferential treatment for companies in provinces that have signed the trade deal.
A new contract offer for fencing for SaskEnergy says the utility may opt to only accept bids from Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
That's not going over well with the Winnipeg Construction Association, which says its 700 members don't want to lose out on business opportunities.
