In a letter addressed to the Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast, heads of Canadian business groups vowed to support a free trade deal with Europe if the federal government signs it.

"You can count on our full support," said the leaders in the letter signed by the heads of Business groups across the country.

According to the Canadian Press, the heads of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, the Canada-Europe Roundtable for Business and the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters and Canadian Council of Chief Executives were the core groups that assured their full support to the Canadian trade minister.

The business leaders wanted the federal government to create favorable environment for the European Union to sign the deal quickly.

Jayson Myers, head of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters group told the Canadian Press that the deal is likely to take several months and even years to ratify after the deal is made. The leader pointed out that the provinces in the country as well as the 27 member countries of the European Union community will likely need to sign on the deal.

One of the members of the groups told Canadian Press that the negotiators have done their part to pass the deal but now it is up to the political leaders to pass the required decisions.

"We want to give groundcover to the politicians so they can then make some brave decisions," Canadian Press quoted the insider as saying.

The negotiations have missed several deadlines since the talks began more than three years ago.The two sides even failed to fulfil the recent pledge to complete an agreement by the end of last year.

However, Jayson Myers told the Canadian Press that he is optimistic about a free trade deal in the offing.

He said a deal is likely to be signed by end of the spring.

Myers expressed his concern that the European parliamentary elections, national elections and provincial votes in Canada are likely to be hurdled for a free trade deal to be signed.

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