Latest news with #Macdonald-LaurierInstitute
2 days ago
- Business
Is Canada now free of internal trade barriers? Not yet, says expert
Federal and provincial leaders are working to dismantle internal trade barriers that push up the cost of goods and make it harder to do business within Canada. But anyone expecting all of them to be gone by tomorrow should read the fine print, experts say. Throughout the spring federal election campaign, Mark Carney as Liberal leader repeatedly vowed to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers and create free trade by Canada Day. The rhetoric has been at times confusing and the political scorecard on this one is hard to track. With July 1 just a day away, Carney's government has passed its planned changes into law — but it's more like the start of a conversation than the final word, says internal trade expert Ryan Manucha. It's a starting gun and it's starting a lot more activity and work, which is honestly the really exciting part, said Manucha. If any of this was easy, it would have been done. Manucha writes on the topic for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute think-tank and authored the book Booze, Cigarettes, and Constitutional Dust-Ups: Canada's Quest for Interprovincial Trade . When I'm advising governments, I say, 'Don't think of this as a light switch, ' he said. We are changing the way that everyone approaches the concept of regulation and risk here, and so it's going to take some time. The rush to break down internal barriers to trade comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war with Canada. One study estimates that existing internal trade hurdles cost the economy some $200 billion a year. Manucha said Canada has talked about this problem for decades but is only addressing it seriously now — and it would never have happened had we not had Trump. He said the introduction of the Carney government's bill on internal trade was incredible to see because the idea was just an academic theory maybe even as little as eight months ago. Bill C-5, the omnibus bill that reduces federal restrictions on interprovincial trade and also speeds up permitting for large infrastructure projects, became law on June 26. An analysis of the law by McMillan Vantage says that this legislation would not achieve the elimination of all internal trade barriers. Provinces hold power When Carney made his campaign promise, he was talking about cutting red tape put up by the federal government — not the rules set by the provinces, which have the most authority in this area. The prime minister described this effort as a sort of quid pro quo with the provinces. We're getting rid of a bunch of duplicative federal regulations. We're going to have a principle of one project, one review — and in exchange, they're going to agree to eliminate all the barriers to trade and labour mobility, Carney said at a rally in Kitchener, Ont., on March 26. The federal government committed that we will sweep away all of our impediments by Canada Day. Free trade by Canada Day. WATCH | Why are provincial trade barriers still a thing? Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Why are provincial trade barriers still a thing? More interprovincial trade is being touted as one potential countermeasure to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats, but complicated barriers stand in the way. CBC's Ellen Mauro breaks down why free trade within Canada is so difficult and what needs to happen to get more goods flowing across the country. But Canada's internal trade barriers won't all be eliminated by then — not even all the federal ones. Canada's supply management system for dairy products, which sets provincial production quotas, will remain in place. Quebec also retains language requirements that will stay in place. Credit unions have complained that the new law does not break down barriers to their expansion into multiple provinces. Nova Scotia reducing trade barriers with 5 provinces (new window) But just how many federal barriers does the bill eliminate? That's hard to sort out. A lot of the details will have to wait until regulations are drafted — a process that will involve consultations with affected industries. I don't really know what this legislation could end up doing because a lot of veto power, a lot of discretion still rests with the regulatory authorities, Manucha said. According to the text of that legislation, it would seem like meat inspection would come off. Is [the Canadian Food Inspection Agency] really going to allow for interprovincial trade and inspection of meat coming from non-federally licensed abattoirs? I don't know. Lack of consensus There is no comprehensive list of existing internal trade barriers. Even some lobby groups have told parliamentarians they don't know how many barriers their own industries face. There isn't even consensus on what all counts as a trade barrier. In the provincial legislation in Ontario, they're talking, for many occupations, [of] having a 30-day service standard for how long it'll take for credentials to be recognized, Manucha said. Nova Scotia, meanwhile, is on the 10-day turnaround time. That's less than a third. Can you call the 30-day versus 10-day a trade barrier? Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, who has repeatedly stated that most of the barriers are at the provincial level, testified to the Senate that she will meet with her provincial counterparts on July 8 to discuss next steps. One major obstacle is in Freeland's crosshairs: Canada's patchwork of interprovincial trucking regulations. One of three areas that I will be putting on the agenda at that meeting is trucking, she said on June 16. It should be a lot easier than it is to drive a truck from Halifax to Vancouver. We need to get rid of conflicting requirements. Kyle Duggan (new window) · The Canadian Press
Global News
2 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Will internal trade barriers be gone by Canada Day? Unlikely, experts say
Federal and provincial leaders are working to dismantle internal trade barriers that push up the cost of goods and make it harder to do business within Canada. But anyone expecting all of them to be gone by tomorrow should read the fine print. Throughout the spring federal election campaign, Liberal Leader Mark Carney repeatedly vowed to 'eliminate' interprovincial trade barriers and create 'free trade by Canada Day.' The rhetoric has been at times confusing and the political scorecard on this one is hard to track. With July 1 just a day away, Carney's government has passed its planned changes into law — but it's more like the start of a conversation than the final word. 'It's a starting gun and it's starting a lot more activity and work, which is honestly the really exciting part,' said internal trade expert Ryan Manucha. 'If any of this was easy, it would have been done.' Story continues below advertisement Manucha writes on the topic for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute think tank and authored the book, 'Booze, Cigarettes, and Constitutional Dust-Ups: Canada's Quest for Interprovincial Trade.' 2:03 Bill C-5: Carney's 'nation-building' projects legislation passes Senate 'When I'm advising governments, I say, 'Don't think of this as a light switch,'' he said. 'We are changing the way that everyone approaches the concept of regulation and risk here, and so it's going to take some time.' The rush to break down internal barriers to trade comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war with Canada. One study estimates that existing internal trade hurdles cost the economy some $200 billion a year. Manucha said Canada has talked about this problem for decades but is only addressing it seriously now — and it would 'never have happened had we not had Trump.' Story continues below advertisement He said the introduction of the Carney government's bill on internal trade was 'incredible to see' because the idea was just 'an academic theory maybe even as little as eight months ago.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Bill C-5, the omnibus bill that reduces federal restrictions on interprovincial trade and also speeds up permitting for large infrastructure projects, became law on June 26. An analysis of the law by McMillan Vantage says that 'this legislation would not achieve' the elimination of all internal trade barriers. When Carney made his campaign promise, he was talking about cutting red tape put up by the federal government — not the rules set by the provinces, which have the most authority in this area. The prime minister described this effort as a sort of quid pro quo with the provinces. 2:08 Nova Scotia making gains in cutting internal trade restrictions 'We're getting rid of a bunch of duplicative federal regulations. We're going to have a principle of one project, one review — and in exchange, they're going to agree to eliminate all the barriers to trade and labour mobility,' Carney said at a rally in Kitchener, Ont., on March 26. Story continues below advertisement 'The federal government committed that we will sweep away all of our impediments by Canada Day. Free trade by Canada Day.' But Canada's internal trade barriers won't all be eliminated by then — not even all the federal ones. Canada's supply management system for dairy products, which sets provincial production quotas, will remain in place. Quebec also retains language requirements that will stay in place. Credit unions have complained that the new law does not break down barriers to their expansion into multiple provinces. Bill C-5 aligns federal requirements for goods and services with provincial ones if they cross provincial or territorial borders. It allows the provincial requirement to replace a federal one if the rules are 'comparable.' Ottawa likes to point to energy efficiency standards. A washing machine made in B.C. that meets the provincial standard still needs to meet additional federal standards before it can be sold in Alberta or Ontario. But this new law means the B.C. standard would replace the federal one. The law also eliminates redundant licensing requirements for labourers. Federal regulators would have to recognize provincial occupational certifications. So just how many federal barriers does the bill eliminate? That's hard to sort out. A lot of the details will have to wait until regulations are drafted — a process that will involve consultations with affected industries. Story continues below advertisement 'I don't really know what this legislation could end up doing because a lot of veto power, a lot a discretion still rests with the regulatory authorities,' Manucha said. 'According to the text of that legislation, it would seem like meat inspection would come off. Is (the Canadian Food Inspection Agency) really going to allow for interprovincial trade and inspection of meat coming from non-federally licensed abattoirs? I don't know.' 6:28 Should Canada adopt new trade tactics? There is no comprehensive list of existing internal trade barriers. Even some lobby groups have told parliamentarians they don't know how many barriers their own industries face. There isn't even consensus on what all counts as a trade barrier. 'In the provincial legislation in Ontario, they're talking for many occupations having a 30-day service standard for how long it'll take for credentials to be recognized,' Manucha said. 'Nova Scotia, meanwhile, is on the 10-day turnaround time. That's less than a third. Can you call the 30-day versus 10-day a trade barrier?' Story continues below advertisement Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, who has repeatedly stated that most of the barriers are at the provincial level, testified to the Senate that she will meet with her provincial counterparts on July 8 to discuss next steps. One major obstacle is in Freeland's crosshairs: Canada's patchwork of interprovincial trucking regulations. 'One of three areas that I will be putting on the agenda at that meeting is trucking,' she said on June 16. 'It should be a lot easier than it is to drive a truck from Halifax to Vancouver. We need to get rid of conflicting requirements.'
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Is Canada now free of internal trade barriers? Read the fine print
OTTAWA – Federal and provincial leaders are working to dismantle internal trade barriers that push up the cost of goods and make it harder to do business within Canada. But anyone expecting all of them to be gone by tomorrow should read the fine print. Throughout the spring federal election campaign, Liberal Leader Mark Carney repeatedly vowed to 'eliminate' interprovincial trade barriers and create 'free trade by Canada Day.' The rhetoric has been at times confusing and the political scorecard on this one is hard to track. With July 1 just a day away, Carney's government has passed its planned changes into law — but it's more like the start of a conversation than the final word. 'It's a starting gun and it's starting a lot more activity and work, which is honestly the really exciting part,' said internal trade expert Ryan Manucha. 'If any of this was easy, it would have been done.' Manucha writes on the topic for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute think tank and authored the book, 'Booze, Cigarettes, and Constitutional Dust-Ups: Canada's Quest for Interprovincial Trade.' 'When I'm advising governments, I say, 'Don't think of this as a light switch,'' he said. 'We are changing the way that everyone approaches the concept of regulation and risk here, and so it's going to take some time.' The rush to break down internal barriers to trade comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war with Canada. One study estimates that existing internal trade hurdles cost the economy some $200 billion a year. Manucha said Canada has talked about this problem for decades but is only addressing it seriously now — and it would 'never have happened had we not had Trump.' He said the introduction of the Carney government's bill on internal trade was 'incredible to see' because the idea was just 'an academic theory maybe even as little as eight months ago.' Bill C-5, the omnibus bill that reduces federal restrictions on interprovincial trade and also speeds up permitting for large infrastructure projects, became law on June 26. An analysis of the law by McMillan Vantage says that 'this legislation would not achieve' the elimination of all internal trade barriers. When Carney made his campaign promise, he was talking about cutting red tape put up by the federal government — not the rules set by the provinces, which have the most authority in this area. The prime minister described this effort as a sort of quid pro quo with the provinces. 'We're getting rid of a bunch of duplicative federal regulations. We're going to have a principle of one project, one review — and in exchange, they're going to agree to eliminate all the barriers to trade and labour mobility,' Carney said at a rally in Kitchener, Ont., on March 26. 'The federal government committed that we will sweep away all of our impediments by Canada Day. Free trade by Canada Day.' But Canada's internal trade barriers won't all be eliminated by then — not even all the federal ones. Canada's supply management system for dairy products, which sets provincial production quotas, will remain in place. Quebec also retains language requirements that will stay in place. Credit unions have complained that the new law does not break down barriers to their expansion into multiple provinces. Bill C-5 aligns federal requirements for goods and services with provincial ones if they cross provincial or territorial borders. It allows the provincial requirement to replace a federal one if the rules are 'comparable.' Ottawa likes to point to energy efficiency standards. A washing machine made in B.C. that meets the provincial standard still needs to meet additional federal standards before it can be sold in Alberta or Ontario. But this new law means the B.C. standard would replace the federal one. The law also eliminates redundant licensing requirements for labourers. Federal regulators would have to recognize provincial occupational certifications. So just how many federal barriers does the bill eliminate? That's hard to sort out. A lot of the details will have to wait until regulations are drafted — a process that will involve consultations with affected industries. 'I don't really know what this legislation could end up doing because a lot of veto power, a lot a discretion still rests with the regulatory authorities,' Manucha said. 'According to the text of that legislation, it would seem like meat inspection would come off. Is (the Canadian Food Inspection Agency) really going to allow for interprovincial trade and inspection of meat coming from non-federally licensed abattoirs? I don't know.' There is no comprehensive list of existing internal trade barriers. Even some lobby groups have told parliamentarians they don't know how many barriers their own industries face. There isn't even consensus on what all counts as a trade barrier. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'In the provincial legislation in Ontario, they're talking for many occupations having a 30-day service standard for how long it'll take for credentials to be recognized,' Manucha said. 'Nova Scotia, meanwhile, is on the 10-day turnaround time. That's less than a third. Can you call the 30-day versus 10-day a trade barrier?' Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, who has repeatedly stated that most of the barriers are at the provincial level, testified to the Senate that she will meet with her provincial counterparts on July 8 to discuss next steps. One major obstacle is in Freeland's crosshairs: Canada's patchwork of interprovincial trucking regulations. 'One of three areas that I will be putting on the agenda at that meeting is trucking,' she said on June 16. 'It should be a lot easier than it is to drive a truck from Halifax to Vancouver. We need to get rid of conflicting requirements.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Is Canada now free of internal trade barriers? Read the fine print
OTTAWA - Federal and provincial leaders are working to dismantle internal trade barriers that push up the cost of goods and make it harder to do business within Canada. But anyone expecting all of them to be gone by tomorrow should read the fine print. Throughout the spring federal election campaign, Liberal Leader Mark Carney repeatedly vowed to 'eliminate' interprovincial trade barriers and create 'free trade by Canada Day.' The rhetoric has been at times confusing and the political scorecard on this one is hard to track. With July 1 just a day away, Carney's government has passed its planned changes into law — but it's more like the start of a conversation than the final word. 'It's a starting gun and it's starting a lot more activity and work, which is honestly the really exciting part,' said internal trade expert Ryan Manucha. 'If any of this was easy, it would have been done.' Manucha writes on the topic for the Macdonald-Laurier Institute think tank and authored the book, 'Booze, Cigarettes, and Constitutional Dust-Ups: Canada's Quest for Interprovincial Trade.' 'When I'm advising governments, I say, 'Don't think of this as a light switch,'' he said. 'We are changing the way that everyone approaches the concept of regulation and risk here, and so it's going to take some time.' The rush to break down internal barriers to trade comes in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war with Canada. One study estimates that existing internal trade hurdles cost the economy some $200 billion a year. Manucha said Canada has talked about this problem for decades but is only addressing it seriously now — and it would 'never have happened had we not had Trump.' He said the introduction of the Carney government's bill on internal trade was 'incredible to see' because the idea was just 'an academic theory maybe even as little as eight months ago.' Bill C-5, the omnibus bill that reduces federal restrictions on interprovincial trade and also speeds up permitting for large infrastructure projects, became law on June 26. An analysis of the law by McMillan Vantage says that 'this legislation would not achieve' the elimination of all internal trade barriers. When Carney made his campaign promise, he was talking about cutting red tape put up by the federal government — not the rules set by the provinces, which have the most authority in this area. The prime minister described this effort as a sort of quid pro quo with the provinces. 'We're getting rid of a bunch of duplicative federal regulations. We're going to have a principle of one project, one review — and in exchange, they're going to agree to eliminate all the barriers to trade and labour mobility,' Carney said at a rally in Kitchener, Ont., on March 26. 'The federal government committed that we will sweep away all of our impediments by Canada Day. Free trade by Canada Day.' But Canada's internal trade barriers won't all be eliminated by then — not even all the federal ones. Canada's supply management system for dairy products, which sets provincial production quotas, will remain in place. Quebec also retains language requirements that will stay in place. Credit unions have complained that the new law does not break down barriers to their expansion into multiple provinces. Bill C-5 aligns federal requirements for goods and services with provincial ones if they cross provincial or territorial borders. It allows the provincial requirement to replace a federal one if the rules are 'comparable.' Ottawa likes to point to energy efficiency standards. A washing machine made in B.C. that meets the provincial standard still needs to meet additional federal standards before it can be sold in Alberta or Ontario. But this new law means the B.C. standard would replace the federal one. The law also eliminates redundant licensing requirements for labourers. Federal regulators would have to recognize provincial occupational certifications. So just how many federal barriers does the bill eliminate? That's hard to sort out. A lot of the details will have to wait until regulations are drafted — a process that will involve consultations with affected industries. 'I don't really know what this legislation could end up doing because a lot of veto power, a lot a discretion still rests with the regulatory authorities,' Manucha said. 'According to the text of that legislation, it would seem like meat inspection would come off. Is (the Canadian Food Inspection Agency) really going to allow for interprovincial trade and inspection of meat coming from non-federally licensed abattoirs? I don't know.' There is no comprehensive list of existing internal trade barriers. Even some lobby groups have told parliamentarians they don't know how many barriers their own industries face. There isn't even consensus on what all counts as a trade barrier. 'In the provincial legislation in Ontario, they're talking for many occupations having a 30-day service standard for how long it'll take for credentials to be recognized,' Manucha said. 'Nova Scotia, meanwhile, is on the 10-day turnaround time. That's less than a third. Can you call the 30-day versus 10-day a trade barrier?' Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, who has repeatedly stated that most of the barriers are at the provincial level, testified to the Senate that she will meet with her provincial counterparts on July 8 to discuss next steps. One major obstacle is in Freeland's crosshairs: Canada's patchwork of interprovincial trucking regulations. 'One of three areas that I will be putting on the agenda at that meeting is trucking,' she said on June 16. 'It should be a lot easier than it is to drive a truck from Halifax to Vancouver. We need to get rid of conflicting requirements.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 30, 2025.
Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Iran regime change the only path forward, Iranian-Canadians say
OTTAWA — Despite enduring institutionally enforced hatred against both Israel and the United States, everyday Iranians aren't directing anger over weeks of airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear ambitions at them. Article content 'I've never heard anyone say, 'Why is Israel doing this,'' Iranian-Canadian Maral told the Toronto Sun. Article content Article content 'Everyone was saying, 'This is this regime, they are the root cause of this. They put us in this situation.'' Article content Article content Maral, her identity concealed over fears of reprisals to her and her family, offered an unflinching view of life in Iran, and why Iranians believe the best way forward is to overthrow the Ayatollah Khamenei's despotic dictatorship. Article content Article content 'Every day for school, even in elementary school, there are flags of the U.S. and Israel on the floor — (students) have to walk over the flags to start our morning,' she said. Article content That, along with official regime slogans calling for the death of America, Israel and the 'three corruptors' — former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and former Israeli PM Menachem Begin — are seeing quiet but conspicuous resistance. Article content Students at universities in Tehran are going out of their way to not tread on the flags, a small but sure sign of growing resistance to Iran's brutal theocracy and a growing desire for regime change. Article content Article content Few understand what living in Iran is like better than Iranians, who saw their once-promising beacon of democracy and prosperity transformed into an Islamofascist dystopia. Article content Article content 'Economically, this is a country that, 40 years ago, was one of the fastest-developing countries in the world,' said Kaveh Shahrooz, a lawyer, activist and Macdonald-Laurier Institute Fellow. Article content 'Since the revolution, it's become one of the most stagnant economies in the world — thanks to corruption and mismanagement, but also the incredible international isolation as a result of the regime's foolish international policies, sponsorship of terrorism and pursuit of nuclear weapons.'
