Issue:
There are significant barriers to interprovincial trade in Canada, and it’s often easier to do business with another country than another province.
Why It Matters:
There are a lot of barriers that stop Ontario businesses selling their products to other provinces or make it harder. For instance, it’s a lot more difficult – or impossible – for a Niagara winery to sell wine to another province in Canada than it is to sell it in America. Niagara’s agricultural produce is inspected provincially when produced, but it has to be inspected again when it crosses a provincial border. This means increased costs and smaller markets.
Facts & Context:
There are around 600 professional credentialing bodies that regulate goods and services being sold within Canada. Almost no industries are untouched by this.
A 2022 report for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute found that eliminating these trade barriers could produce a long-term economic boost between 4.4% and 7.9% in GDP. This would add thousands of dollars in effective annual income to every Canadian.
The Government of Canada passed the Canadian Free Trade Agreement in 2017, which has softened some rules, but as the federal and provincial governments are co-equal under confederation, a lot of the work still has to be done by the provinces.
Policy Position:
We’re asking for an urgent, interprovincial initiative to reduce or eliminate internal trade barriers, which will involve setting common standards, establishing single points of inspection, and more.
2025-ongoing
