The Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominic LeBlanc, announced that the Government of Canada is taking steps to facilitate commerce by removing barriers that hinder internal trade.
Trade within Canada is a key component of the national economy, driving commerce, creating jobs, facilitating business expansion, and providing Canadians with more choices. The government highlighted its efforts to address long-standing internal trade barriers by removing or narrowing one-third of all federal exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).
Leaders in the business community, such as the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Business Council of Canada, and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, have supported this initiative. They noted that reducing the number of exceptions in the CFTA will strengthen internal trade and enhance the productivity of Canada’s economy. In response to stakeholder feedback, the government has removed or narrowed 17 federal exceptions in the CFTA, most of which relate to federal government procurement. This change is expected to give Canadian businesses more opportunities to compete nationwide.
The Government of Canada has previously taken measures to strengthen internal trade. These include launching the Canadian Internal Trade Data and Information Hub, engaging with stakeholders and industry, and collaborating with provinces and territories to advance regulatory and internal trade cooperative efforts to eliminate barriers.
The government encourages all provinces and territories to take similar steps and publicly share the rationales for any exceptions.
One of the key initiatives moving forward is the development of a comprehensive Federal Framework on Mutual Recognition. This framework aims to bring provinces and territories together to cut red tape and allow goods and services to move freely across the country, including working towards full labour mobility in the construction, health, and childcare sectors.
“The further removal of exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement reflects our government’s commitment to listen to industry and help Canadian businesses get their products to more consumers,” Minister LeBlanc stated. “We will keep taking action within our areas of jurisdiction to strengthen our supply chains, grow the economy, and make life more affordable for all Canadians, while encouraging our provincial and territorial partners to do the same.”