Latest news with #CanadaFreeTradeAgreement
Vancouver Sun
01-07-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. makes gains on breaking down interprovincial trade barriers: CFIB
B.C. improved its ranking to a B+ grade on the Canadian Federation of Independent Business' 2025 State of Internal Trade report, up from a B in 2024, but it still has 'a lot more work to do,' according to Ryan Mitton, CFIB's director of legislative affairs for B.C. The federation released its latest report card on interprovincial trade on Monday and credited B.C.'s gain on legislation that dropped most of its barriers to trade with other provinces as one measure to protect the province from external threats. Mitton said eliminating trade barriers between provinces 'couldn't be more critical' at a time when threatened U.S. tariffs are starting to do real damage to the Canadian economy. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Really, the big thing is, we've seen so much momentum just in the last six months, more even than in the six years since the 2017 Canada Free Trade Agreement,' Mitton added. In B.C., this included a section in the province's economic stabilization act that calls for the unilateral recognition in this province of most goods and services produced in other provinces, Mitton said. However, while B.C. has lifted its restrictions on direct-to-consumer shipments of wine, Mitton said it has left similar restrictions on direct shipments of craft beer and spirits. And although B.C. has improved on its recognition of professional and trades certifications from other provinces, Mitton added that B.C. still hasn't set a schedule for the approval of workers certified in other provinces. 'The danger at this point is that we lose sight of that (progress). We need to keep the movement going.' Nova Scotia earned top marks on the Canadian Federation of Independent Business report card with an A grade because it was the first province to implement mutual recognition legislation, followed closely by Ontario, which earned a slightly lower A grade by unilaterally eliminating all of the exemptions to the Canada Free Trade Agreement that it maintained. Manitoba was the next closest with an A-, and B.C., with its B+ rounded out the top four provinces. The federal government, which included the elimination of its exemptions to the CFTA in legislation, dubbed the One Canadian Economy bill by Prime Minister Mark Carney, earned a B. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business argues that the stakes in smoothing over interprovincial trade are high with one 2019 International Monetary Fund estimate determining eliminating barriers would be up to a seven per cent boost to Canadian GDP. Mitton said that could be as much as a $200 billion boost to Canada's economy, $50 billion to B.C. 'We know competition is good for business and it allows them opportunities to expand their markets, hire more people, and invest in their businesses,' Mitton added. Other economists, however, question the size of those estimated gains on the premise that the vast majority of goods and services that move across provincial borders do so without any barriers. 'When we look at what actual trade barriers exist, the list is very small — alcohol sales, some minor trucking regulations, and government procurement policies,' wrote Marc Lee, a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives wrote in a February commentary on interprovincial trade. Lee said there is work to do in some areas, such as credential recognition of skilled workers moving from province to province. And there are also risks in the mutual recognition of regulations on industries from province to province. For example, Lee said trucking regulations in geographically flat Saskatchewan might not be appropriate for more mountainous B.C. He argued 'mutual recognition' could result in provinces being forced to accept the least stringent rules for safety, environmental and consumer protection. Read the 2025 State of Internal Trade report . depenner@
CTV News
30-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Canada removing federal internal trade barriers: Freeland
Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks about the significance of domestic trade and the impact it will have on Canada's economy. The federal government is taking steps to eliminate the interprovincial trade barriers under its jurisdiction, Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland announced in a press release Monday. In a statement, Freeland said Ottawa has now removed all federal exemptions in the Canada Free Trade Agreement that would inhibit interprovincial trade. Prime Minister Mark Carney significantly reduced the number of federal barriers prior to the spring election, but there were still just shy of two dozen exemptions left in place, primarily for national security reasons. According to the statement, most of the now-eliminated exceptions related to federal procurement rules. The news comes a day before the deadline Carney had promised, to eliminate internal trade barriers by Canada Day, and in conjunction with the recent passing of the Liberals' so-called One Canadian Economy bill. Some provinces have been taking action to remove some internal trade barriers themselves by signing agreements and memorandums of understanding to do so. Despite this, several sticking points remain in place and many interprovincial trade barriers continue to exist, such as geographic restrictions on the sale of certain goods, regulatory and policy differences across jurisdictions, and hurdles to labour mobility. With files from CTV News' Colton Praill
Hamilton Spectator
05-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Territorial premiers say internal trade talks should consider northern context
The premiers of Canada's three territories say the county's push to remove internal trade barriers needs to consider the unique economic situation of the North. Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai, Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson and Northwest Territories Premier P.J. Akeeagok say they will be exploring the creation of a 'territorial trade zone' that would make sure modern treaties with Indigenous people, and the needs of the territories are recognized as trade barriers come down. The premiers met this weekend in Yukon for their annual Northern Premiers' Forum. Pillai says the territories are willing, where possible, to remove trade barriers but any conversations have to consider the legally-binding treaties and self-government agreements that are in place with northern Indigenous governments. Akeeagok says the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement has enshrined articles that give Inuit the right of first refusal on procurement and require consultation for any legislative change. Simpson says even if the territories hold on to some of their exemptions under the Canada Free Trade Agreement, reducing any barriers to doing business will benefit the territories. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2025
CBC
20-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Even parts of the P.E.I. government say we're moving to eliminate trade barriers too quickly
Social Sharing As the P.E.I. government moves full steam ahead toward an agreement to reduce trade barriers and improve labour mobility with Nova Scotia, Ontario and any other provinces that want to join, there are entreaties for the province to slow down — including from within the P.E.I. government itself. Premier Rob Lantz tabled a bill on April 11 modelled on similar legislation recently enacted in Nova Scotia. The goal is to have participating provinces enact laws to recognize each others' regulations, standards and accreditation programs to eliminate trade barriers and promote labour mobility. But professional associations and other groups consulted by the P.E.I. government in the lead-up to tabling its legislation complained the province was moving too quickly and cautioned about potential unintended consequences from the effort that could put the public at risk. One of the complaints came from the director of the province's Financial and Consumer Services Division, according to emails that Lantz tabled in the legislature on April 16. "It is unfortunate the division was not made aware of this parallel legislative initiative," Steve Dowling wrote in an April 4 email to staff with the Department of Workforce and Advance Learning. P.E.I. premier tables act to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers in face of Trump tariffs 3 days ago Duration 1:57 Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz says his new Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act will make it easier to move goods from province to province, and easier for people to work in other places. The premier hopes to have it in place for Canada Day, in the face of instability regarding markets in the United States. CBC's Stacey Janzer reports. The department sent out consultation drafts of the legislation on the afternoon of Monday, March 31, asking groups to provide feedback during either of two sessions scheduled two days later. "The three-day window accorded to the division to review and respond to the proposed act contrasts significantly with our extensive, proactive and collaborative work with you" on parallel efforts to reduce trade barriers under the Canada Free Trade Agreement, Dowling wrote. Ultimately Dowling suggested his colleagues conduct further consultation and wait for more provinces to put forward similar legislation so that P.E.I. could learn from their work. Ontario tabled its bill on interprovincial trade barriers on April 16. Nova Scotia bill had to be changed The original bill put forward in Nova Scotia by the Tim Houston government required significant amendments after regulatory bodies raised concerns about unintended consequences that could put public safety at risk. Groups including the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association said the original legislation would have removed their ability to monitor who was practising in the province, and leave them unable to detect people posing as regulated professionals. Similar concerns were raised during P.E.I.'s consultation process. The registrar of the P.E.I. Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Jessie MacQuarrie, told the province the proposed legislation would leave the association with no ability to provide oversight or "impose restrictions or suspensions against veterinarians from reciprocating jurisdictions, no matter how egregious the offence." MacQuarrie also said the lack of a requirement in the legislation that accredited individuals also work from an accredited facility would mean that people "could engage in the practice of veterinary medicine from the back of a vehicle in a parking lot." She asked that her group be included as an excluded regulatory authority under the act. The legislation includes specific exclusions for health professions that fall under the Regulated Health Professions Act (which does not include veterinarians) and for the Law Society of P.E.I. Other professions can be excluded from the act when regulations are developed applying to it down the road. Additional professional groups that asked to be excluded from the new law include Island psychologists, teachers, engineers, social workers, chartered professional accountants and land surveyors. P.E.I.'s deputy minister of Housing, Land and Communities, Jamie MacDonald, advised government to limit the recognition of credentials for elevator installers from other provinces. The P.E.I. College of Pharmacy warned of a potential loophole that could let a person with an outstanding criminal charge practise on the Island by providing proof of an outdated criminal records check. The Canadian Labour Congress pointed to research suggesting increased labour mobility could lead to workers leaving one jurisdiction in search of better wages in another. The P.E.I. Association of Social Workers raised concerns that the bill could create a vacuum of professional accountability, warning that if "an individual (service user, client, or patient) experiences harm due to this legislation, there may not be recourse for the individual." Several groups including the P.E.I. Department of Justice said they would struggle to meet the requirement in the bill that certifications for professionals from other jurisdictions be provided within 10 business days. Trying to speed up progress: Lantz On Wednesday in the legislature, the Liberals and Greens filed a joint motion asking for the legislation to be sent to committee for further review. The PCs denied the unanimous consent required to let that motion be debated the same day it was tabled. People in our position have struggled for decades to make any progress on this, because it was approached from the perspective primarily of trying to harmonize regulations and laws across jurisdictions. During question period, Lantz defended comments he had made previously, that the bill represents a "quick and dirty" effort to reduce barriers to trade with other provinces. "People in our position have struggled for decades to make any progress on this, because it was approached from the perspective primarily of trying to harmonize regulations and laws across jurisdictions," Lantz said. "This is a simple approach of mutual recognition that will advance free trade across this country in the simplest way possible and the quickest way possible." Lantz has said he wants the law to be in place by July 1, the date set by Prime Minister Mark Carney to have freer trade between the provinces and territories after meeting with first ministers in March.
CBC
16-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
P.E.I. premier says he would use notwithstanding clause to secure Lands Protection Act
Social Sharing Premier Rob Lantz says he will do whatever it takes to protect P.E.I.'s Lands Protection Act amid concerns about how that legislation would be affected by the governing Progressive Conservatives' proposed bill to eliminate trade barriers between provinces. "I will never compromise our Lands Protection Act," Lantz said Wednesday in the legislature, as PC MLAs applauded loudly. "I would go so far as using the notwithstanding clause to protect our Lands Protection Act here on Prince Edward Island." Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms — known as the notwithstanding clause — allows for premiers or prime ministers to override rulings on legislation that judges have determined would violate sections of the Charter for a five-year period. The clause can only override certain sections of the Charter — including Section 2 and sections 7 to 15, which deal with fundamental freedoms, legal rights and equality rights — but can't be used to override democratic rights. 'Critically important' The PC government's proposed interprovincial trade bill introduced last Friday, would ease the flow of goods to and from other provinces that enact similar legislation, and make it easier for workers in some regulated professions to find employment on the Island. The opposition parties are concerned the legislation would supersede all other laws, including the Lands Protection Act, which limits non-residential land ownership in the province. Green MLA Matt MacFarlane said Wednesday that the lands act is "one of our most unique and important pieces of legislation," adding that it is up to the PC government to ensure nothing is removed from the "critically important protections on land." He noted that Erin McGrath-Gaudet, the province's deputy minister of intergovernmental affairs, said on the floor of the legislature Tuesday that she was only reasonably confident that the Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act would not negatively impact land protections. "Islanders expect the premier to ensure, without a shadow of a doubt, that our land protection laws are going to be secure," MacFarlane said. When asked whether he would commit to reviewing the interprovinical trade bill to guarantee that no part of it can override or weaken P.E.I.'s land protection laws, Lantz said he is committed to doing so. Federal free trade Prime Minister Mark Carney said last month that he's committed to removing all federal exemptions under the Canada Free Trade Agreement by July 1. MacFarlane asked Lantz whether he is willing to gamble the protection of Island land to be first out of the gate when it comes to removing trade barriers between provinces. "I have heard the federal government — the prime minister and the trade minister — commit to removing federal exemptions from the Canada Free Trade Agreement. I have heard provincial premiers talk about removing all of their party-specific exemptions from the Canada Free Trade Agreement. You haven't heard me say that," Lantz said.
