Licence plate fight in court

Photo: The Canadian Press

Alberta Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Transportation Brian Mason arrives for a cabinet meeting in Calgary, Alta., on May 28, 2015. Alberta is officially challenging Saskatchewan's licence plate ban, filing the paperwork to have the issued resolved by an arbitration panel under the free trade New West Partnership. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta is challenging Saskatchewan's licence plate ban, filing the paperwork to have the issued resolved by an arbitration panel under the free trade New West Partnership.

Alberta Economic Development Minister Deron Bilous says Saskatchewan's ban is, in his words, "petty" and a clear violation of the inter-provincial deal.

Bilous says Alberta stands to be awarded up to $5 million in a process that could take until next fall to be resolved.

He says he and Alberta officials will still meet with their Saskatchewan counterparts in Lloydminster next month to try to resolve the dispute and any other outstanding issues.

Last week, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall's government announced a ban on Alberta plates on any trucks doing business on future Saskatchewan government road and building contracts.

Saskatchewan Economy Minister Steven Bonk they hope to level the playing field for workers who are being outbid by Alberta workers because of lower insurance costs.

Bonk says the ban is in retaliation for similar rules on Alberta job sites, but Bilous says those rules don't exist and there is no discrimination against drivers with out-of-province plates.