Amid ongoing trade tensions, there's still no timeline on N.L.'s Boston trade office

A new trade office recently announced by Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey to strengthen commercial relations with New England still isn't off the ground, as a trade war looms with the United States.

Furey announced in September that the provincial government would open a trade office in Boston, located inside the city's Canadian consulate.

Last week, Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne said the Boston office will play a key role in the province's navigation of the current economic climate. That statement comes as Furey prepares to join the rest of Canada's premiers and territorial leaders in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to discuss trade amid looming threats of U.S. tariffs by President Donald Trump.

"One of the key roles of the Boston office [is to] constantly, constantly engage U.S. consumers, U.S. business groups, U.S. congressmen, [U.S.] influencers … to get them to tell the White House that Trump's decisions are hurting Americans," Byrne said, appearing on a segment of VOCM's Open Line.

"That's why the Boston office, in my opinion, is so critically important, now more than ever."

But almost five months after it was announced, that office has not yet opened its doors — or hired anyone to work there.

Radio-Canada asked the premier's office for an update on the trade office last week. 

"Global Affairs Canada is in the process of readying the space in the Canadian consulate for the government of Newfoundland and Labrador," said Greg Gill, the director of communications for the province's Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat, in a statement.

Gill did not provide a timeline.

"The hiring process for the office lead is underway. There are expected to eventually be three staff working in the office," the statement reads.

Gill wrote that the estimated annual operating budget for the office is $1 million.

P.C. Leader Tony Wakeham thinks it's troubling that the exact details surrounding the opening and operations of the office have not been released.

"That is very frustrating for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, when announcements continue to be made but no action is taken," Wakeham said in an interview with Radio-Canada.

Wakeham says a plan should have accompanied the announcement of the Boston trade office in September.

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