Latest news with #TransportandInternalTrade
Cision Canada
08-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Committee on Internal Trade meets to strengthen Canada's economy Français
QUEBEC CITY, /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, met with her provincial and territorial counterparts at the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT) meeting in Québec City to advance shared priorities and strengthen Canada's domestic economy. Over the past six months, the federal government worked with the CIT to facilitate internal trade and labour mobility across Canada by: Removing unnecessary exceptions from the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses to buy and sell interprovincially and compete for government procurement. Reaching an agreement in principle to include the financial services sector into the CFTA by end of Fall 2025. Expanding the Mutual Recognition Project in the trucking sector to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Minister Freeland invited transportation officials and experts to a Trucking Hackathon on July 15-16 in Toronto to identify new opportunities to make it easier to transport goods across Canada by aligning regulations in the trucking sector. Advancing mutual recognition for goods (except for food) by December 2025, making it easier to buy and sell Canadian goods across the country. Committing to implement an Action Plan on labour mobility, including a 30-day service standard to process labour mobility applications. Signing a Memorandum of Understanding to implement a direct-to-consumer alcohol sales system by May 2026, at the latest. Agreeing to launch internal trade missions to foster business growth and promote trade across Canada. In addition, the federal government recently announced the elimination of all federal exceptions in the CFTA. The government has also successfully passed the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act as part of Canada's new One Canadian Economy Act. This legislation will eliminate federal barriers to the movement of goods, services and labour within Canada, while upholding the health, safety and security of Canadians, their social and economic well-being, and the environment. The federal government will continue to work toward the removal of remaining barriers to internal trade and labour mobility to ensure all Canadian businesses and workers have access to a seamless and integrated domestic market. Quotes "Our government is spearheading measures to remove barriers to trade within our country, including removing all federal exceptions under the CFTA and removing federal barriers to the movement of goods, services and labour within Canada. We are making it easier for Canadians to buy Canadian-made products, building a stronger economy, and securing a more prosperous future for all Canadians." —The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Quick Facts Trade within Canada is an essential driver of the Canadian economy. Eliminating barriers to internal trade will lower prices on everyday items, give Canadians greater choice, and increase productivity, adding up to $200 billion to the economy. The Committee on Internal Trade consists of all federal, provincial, and territorial ministers responsible for internal trade, and is responsible for supervising the implementation of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), including providing oversight over a number of CFTA working groups; assisting in the resolution of disputes; approving the annual operating budget of the Internal Trade Secretariat (ITS); and considering any other matter that may affect the operation of the CFTA. Associated Links Stay Connected SOURCE Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Carney orders deep cuts ahead of first federal budget amid soaring defense budget
Canadian cabinet ministers have been directed to find billions of dollars in savings over the next three years as Prime Minister Mark Carney 's government prepares for its first federal budget this fall. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne sent letters to all cabinet ministers on Monday(July 7) instructing them to identify "ambitious savings proposals" by the end of summer. The proposals are part of a 'comprehensive expenditure review' aimed at reducing day-to-day program spending and reallocating funds to priority investments. According to the directive, ministers must cut 7.5 percent of program spending in fiscal year 2026–27, followed by 10 percent in 2027–28 and 15 percent in 2028–29. Program spending includes federal departmental operations but excludes transfers to provinces, debt payments, and direct individual benefits such as pensions. 'This review will ensure that new investments are anchored by a new fiscal plan that spends less on government operations,' Champagne wrote in the letter, a copy of which was confirmed by his communications office. The cuts come as Canada ramps up defense spending, following a pledge at last month's NATO summit to raise military expenditures to 5 percent of GDP, approximately $150 billion annually within a decade. The move significantly exceeds the Liberal Party 's original campaign projections and has led analysts to warn that the country's deficit could grow larger than expected. Live Events Champagne's second letter to ministers outlined new rules for requesting budget funds. Any new spending must align with one of seven priority areas identified in the government's mandate letter and be funded, where possible, through internal reallocations. The review is not intended as a job-cutting exercise, according to Champagne's office, though public service reductions through attrition are possible. The federal workforce has grown from 257,000 employees in 2015 to nearly 358,000 in 2025. Transport and Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland told CBC that critical social programs such as childcare, dental care, and transfers to provinces will not be impacted by the cuts. The government is also exploring the use of artificial intelligence to improve service efficiency, potentially reshaping the public service in the long term. The 2025 federal budget is expected to be tabled shortly after Parliament resumes in September.
National Observer
02-07-2025
- Politics
- National Observer
Bill C-5 is not just bad policy, it's a constitutional mess
Prime Minister Carney's attempt to make good on his election promise to build one Canadian economy and get things built — Bill C-5 — has been written and rushed through Parliament at breakneck speed. And it shows. Aimed at streamlining interprovincial trade and fast-tracking major projects, Bill C-5 has been heavily criticized by Indigenous peoples, environmental groups and legal experts who warn it erodes foundational democratic principles and allows the government to circumvent environmental laws and run roughshod over Indigenous rights. Of particular concern is Part 2, the Building Canada Act. If passed, it would apply to projects that the federal cabinet designates as being in the 'national interest.' Designating the projects acts as their approval — in other words, projects will get the green light before they are reviewed. This approach flies in the face of over half a century of experience showing that governments make better decisions when they understand the consequences of those decisions ahead of time. The bill also consolidates regulatory power in the hands of one 'super minister' (likely to be Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who tabled the Bill along with Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland). While that minister must consult ministers responsible for various project aspects and effects, he or she can ignore their advice. The super minister will also not need to comply with environmental legal standards and can, instead, authorize harms that would be otherwise unacceptable under Canadian law, because the Bill 'deems' all authorization requirements to have been met. Effectively, Bill C-5 creates two classes of projects: regular projects which have to go through legal checks and balances, and 'national interest' projects to which the rules won't apply. Canada's legal system — indeed, our democracy — is premised on the principle that everyone is equal under the law. Bill C-5 undermines that principle, along with others. For example, our democratic system relies on three independent but interrelated branches of government — the legislative, executive and judiciary. While the executive branch (cabinet) may propose laws, Parliament is ultimately responsible for passing them, and the judiciary ensures the lawfulness of those laws and their implementation. Separating the powers among the three branches ensures that power is not unduly concentrated in any one body. Bill C-5 throws that principle under the bus. It gives the federal cabinet regulatory power to exempt projects from environmental laws (known as so-called 'Henry VIII' clauses). In Bill C-5, they effectively allow cabinet to amend laws by making regulations about when and to whom those laws apply. Under Prime Minister Mark Carney's plan to speed up development in the country's "national interest", projects will get the green light before they are reviewed, writes Anna Johnston As Supreme Court Justice Côté warned in the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act reference case, Henry VIII clauses grant cabinet 'breathtaking' powers that may run afoul of the principle of parliamentary sovereignty. Notably, the Henry VIII provisions in Bill C-5 go far beyond what the clauses in the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act do — under the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, cabinet can only make regulations amending that Act, whereas under Bill C-5, cabinet can make regulations amending any federal environmental law. More concerningly, Bill C-5 effectively gives Henry VIII powers to the super minister. Whereas the cabinet would have to pass regulations saying that a law or laws don't apply to a project, the minister can simply ignore legal standards. Once cabinet orders a project of 'national interest' under the Act, it no longer needs to obtain the customary authorizations and permits. Instead, the super minister will issue a document with conditions that stands in for authorizations and permits. As noted above, the bill 'deems' that the document meets all requirements, under any enactment, that relate to the authorizations it replaces. This 'deeming' acts as legal doublespeak. For example, if a project affects an endangered species, normally the minister would have to be satisfied that it would not jeopardize the species' survival and recovery before agreeing to it. Bill C-5 will 'deem' that the project will not jeopardize the species, no matter its actual effects. These issues are concerning, not just from an environmental perspective, but also on constitutional and democracy grounds. Department of Justice guidance warns against the kind of 'deeming' provisions contained in Bill C-5, and the law invites lawsuits and protests. Indigenous rights-holders faced with the potential extinction of a species central to the exercise of their rights are unlikely to be satisfied by the explanation that Bill C-5 'deems' the species not to be harmed. Nor may the public be satisfied with having a handful of politicians declaring what is in the national interest solely on the basis of the self-interested claims of proponents. Yes, we need big, transformative investments in projects that benefit Canadians, projects like renewable energy, high-speed rail and an east-west electricity grid. We have proven tools for making efficient decisions about those projects in ways that are also rigorous, participatory and fair. Tools like independent review panels, which for decades have thoroughly assessed projects in under two years and led to better buy-in to decisions. Or regional assessments, like those for offshore wind in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, which will allow much more streamlined project reviews without compromising Indigenous engagement, public participation or science. Parliament passed Bill C-5 last Thursday. It sets a dangerous precedent for Canada, but the government can take measures to ensure that national interest projects are truly in the public interest, are carefully reviewed and have the consent of Indigenous peoples. As the recent report An Ounce of Prevention: How Strong Environmental Laws Contribute to a Prosperous and Resilient Canada shows, those outcomes are not a pipe dream. The environmental assessment of the Voisey's Bay nickel mine, conducted by a panel jointly appointed by Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Labrador Inuit Association and the Innu Nation, took roughly two years and identified ways to ensure long-lasting benefits for communities. The mine still operates to this day. The Ekati Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories underwent a two-year-long assessment that identified a number of community concerns, as well as ways to address them. Like Voisey's Bay, the mine is still in operation. As these examples show, efficient, effective and fair decisions about major projects are possible. A stitch in time saves nine.
Fibre2Fashion
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Canada ends CFTA exceptions to build one Canadian economy
As part of the government's efforts to build one Canadian economy, the federal government has announced the removal of all remaining federal exceptions from the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), eliminating all 53 in the agreement since its introduction in 2017. Key sectors impacted by the removal include financial services, commercial land development, transportation, and space projects. The Canadian government has announced the removal of all 53 federal exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) to foster a unified economy. The reform targets key sectors like finance, transport, and land development, and builds on Bill C-5 to boost trade and labour mobility. Provinces are reviewing their own exceptions, with results due on July 8. The CFTA was introduced to reduce and eliminate barriers to the free movement of persons, goods, services, and investments within Canada and to establish an open efficient, and stable domestic market. All provincial and territorial governments have committed to undertaking a review of their respective exceptions under the CFTA. Together, they have made great progress, and the results will be announced at the upcoming meeting of the committee on internal trade on July 8, 2025. The announcement builds on the government's efforts to strengthen the Canadian economy. Most recently, the government passed Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, which will remove federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility, and advance nation-building projects to drive Canadian productivity, economic growth, and competitiveness, Canadian government said in a press release. The federal government reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with provinces and territories to further strengthen the CFTA, promote mutual recognition, and ensure seamless labour movement across Canada. 'Canada's new government is breaking down trade barriers and building one strong economy – connected by Canadian projects, powered by Canadian energy, and crafted by Canadian workers. Together, we can give ourselves more than any foreign nation can take away,' said Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada. 'Removal of all federal exceptions in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement is one of the many recent measures we are taking, following the passing of the One Canadian Economy Act , to eliminate internal trade barriers and cut red tape for Canadian businesses,' said Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade . 'We are moving quickly on commitments to improve labour mobility for workers across the country, implement mutual recognition agreements to gets goods and services moving, and removing duplication of requirements which for too long have created extra costs and delays for Canadian businesses and workers. We will create one Canadian economy; one with more opportunities for Canadian businesses and Canadian workers, an economy that will put more money in the pocket of every Canadian,' added Freeland. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Cision Canada
30-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Federal government strengthens the Canadian Free Trade Agreement Français
OTTAWA, ON, /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, announced a historic step towards freer trade within Canada. As part of the Government's efforts to build one Canadian economy, the federal government will be removing all remaining federal exceptions from the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), eliminating all 53 in the Agreement since its introduction in 2017. Most of the exceptions removed focus on procurement, which will provide Canadian businesses with more opportunities to be competitive across the country. For example, as part of this last review, the federal government is removing procurement exceptions related to financial entities, commercial land development, transportation services and space projects. All provincial and territorial governments have committed to undertaking a review of their respective exceptions under the CFTA. Together, they have made great progress and the results will be announced at the upcoming meeting of the Committee on Internal Trade on July 8, 2025. Today's announcement builds on the government's efforts to strengthen the Canadian economy. Most recently, the government passed Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, which will remove federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility, and advance nation-building projects to drive Canadian productivity, economic growth, and competitiveness. The federal government will continue to show leadership in this area, and work with provinces and territories to strengthen the CFTA, advance mutual recognition, and ensure seamless labour mobility within Canada. Quotes "Canada's new government is breaking down trade barriers and building one strong economy – connected by Canadian projects, powered by Canadian energy, and crafted by Canadian workers. Together, we can give ourselves more than any foreign nation can take away." —The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada "Removal of all federal exceptions in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement is one of the many recent measures we are taking, following the passing of the One Canadian Economy Act, to eliminate internal trade barriers and cut red tape for Canadian businesses. We are moving quickly on commitments to improve labour mobility for workers across the country, implement mutual recognition agreements to gets goods and services moving, and removing duplication of requirements which for too long have created extra costs and delays for Canadian businesses and workers. We will create one Canadian economy; one with more opportunities for Canadian businesses and Canadian workers, an economy that will put more money in the pocket of every Canadian." —The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Quick Facts In 2023, more than $530 billion worth of goods and services moved across provincial and territorial borders, representing almost 20% of Canada's gross domestic product. The Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) came into force on July 1, 2017, to reduce and eliminate barriers to the free movement of persons, goods, services, and investments within Canada and to establish an open efficient, and stable domestic market. CFTA exceptions are provisions of the agreement that allow federal, provincial or territorial governments to opt out of obligations under the agreement, for example to exclude an industry, sector, or legislation. Canadian business and industry have expressed concern that these exceptions can hinder free trade by allowing for inconsistent rules, standards, and licensing requirements for goods, investments and services. Leaders, such as the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Business Council of Canada and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, note that reducing the number of exceptions in the CFTA will help strengthen internal trade and support the productivity of Canada's economy. The government is also working closely with provinces and territories to quickly expand the Mutual Recognition Project in the trucking sector, prioritize broader mutual recognition to make everyday items more affordable, and implement the Forum of Labour Market Ministers Action Plan, which outlines concrete steps to improve the movement of workers across provinces and territories. Associated Links SOURCE Minister of Transport and Internal Trade For more information (media only), please contact: Laura Scaffidi, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, [email protected]; Media Relations, Privy Council Office, 613-957-5420, [email protected]
