Latest news with #internaltrade
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Power & Politics: Live from First Ministers' Meeting
Watch Power & Politics with David Cochrane live from Saskatoon, where Prime Minister Mark Carney and the premiers are wrapping up a meeting focused on internal trade and nation-building projects.
National Post
4 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Doug Ford and Scott Moe agree to work on eliminating trade barriers on eve of first ministers' meeting
On the eve of a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney about knocking down internal trade barriers, Ontario Premier Doug Ford inked a new agreement with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to work on eliminating barriers between the two provinces. Article content Article content Both leaders participated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding in Saskatoon on Sunday. Article content The document said Ford and Moe agree to 'build on their respective enabling legislation to remove internal trade barriers between them,' in order to increase the flow of workers as well as services and goods, such as alcohol. Article content Last month, Ford's Progressive Conservative government introduced legislation aimed at removing trade barriers between Ontario and other provinces. Ford has already made similar announcements with Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Manitoba. Article content Article content Ford and other premiers have turned their attention to addressing longstanding internal trade barriers in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war. Article content In recent weeks, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec have all tabled legislation aimed at boosting interprovincial trade. Article content The new memorandum of understanding with Moe cites his Saskatchewan Party government's forthcoming legislation to address the issue. The document signed on Sunday says that Ontario and Saskatchewan 'will strive to ensure that a good or equivalent service or registered worker that is deemed acceptable for sale, use or work in Ontario, is deemed acceptable for sale, use or work in Saskatchewan — and vice versa.' Article content Article content It also calls on other Canadian provincial and territorial leaders to table their own legislation to knock down internal trade barriers, including 'through mutual recognition.' Article content Internal trade is expected to be a focal point of discussion when Carney meets with all 13 provincial and territorial leaders on Monday. The prime minister has repeatedly said Canada's economy would be stronger if it acted as one, not as 13. Article content Another major topic of discussion at Monday's first ministers' meeting will be how Ottawa plans to fast-track the building of major energy and infrastructure projects, with Carney promising to knock down the timeline for approvals to two years from five. Article content Premiers will be provided with an overview of yet-to-be-tabled legislation that seeks to establish a new major projects office and allow for changes to the current regulatory system.
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Streamlining licensing and workers compensation registration key to unlocking Canadian labour mobility
TORONTO, May 27, 2025 /CNW/ - As the Committee on Internal Trade's June 1 deadline for delivering an action plan to boost labour mobility approaches, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)'s new snapshot highlights inconsistent regulations and standards restricting labour mobility across the country. 'There has been lots of positive talk at all levels of government around breaking down labour mobility barriers in Canada, but we haven't seen all the action needed to support it yet,' said SeoRhin Yoo, CFIB's senior policy analyst. 'The June 1 deadline to deliver an action plan on labour mobility, as well as the First Ministers' Meeting on June 2 are opportunities for Premiers and the Prime Minister to show Canadian small business owners that they're serious about eliminating internal trade barriers.' Of small businesses who have hired workers from, or have employees working in, other jurisdictions, nearly half (49%) have experienced challenges. For those businesses, top challenges include lack of recognition of certifications between jurisdictions, acquiring provincial licensing, adjusting Occupational Health and Safety rules to fit requirements of another jurisdiction, and registering business and employees in workers' compensation outside of their home province/territory. CFIB is urging governments to minimize exceptions, streamline certification processes, mutually recognize equivalent qualifications, and make it easier and quicker for employees to start working in another jurisdiction. 'We're hearing from businesses that navigating WCB systems is time-consuming and that differing provincial regulations make it hard to operate and expand across Canada,' said Bradlee Whidden, CFIB's senior policy analyst. 'We need policies that would open doors for workers and allow businesses to better recruit and retain employees. Workers would be able to move to areas where their skills are in higher demand, while businesses would be able to fill vacancies more quickly, boosting Canada's economy and productivity while addressing unemployment. That can be done without compromising public safety, but we need political will and governments working together.' Some examples of labour mobility barriers include: Read the full Stuck at the border: How paperwork hinders labour mobility for small businesses snapshot. About CFIB The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is Canada's largest association of small and medium-sized businesses with 100,000 members across every industry and region. CFIB is dedicated to increasing business owners' chances of success by driving policy change at all levels of government, providing expert advice and tools, and negotiating exclusive savings. Learn more at SOURCE Canadian Federation of Independent Business
CTV News
26-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Reducing internal trade barriers tops priorities for businesses: KPMG poll
Signage at the KPMG offices in Ottawa on Friday, June 28, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick A new report says nearly two-thirds Canadian businesses want the government to work to reduce the barriers to internal trade in an effort to improve productivity. The poll by KPMG in Canada of 250 business leaders found 64 per cent of those surveyed says government removing interprovincial trade barriers and harmonizing regulations and credentials is a top priority. The online survey done between May 9 and May 20 also found that 82 per cent of business leaders believe the elimination of interprovincial trade barriers will improve their company's efficiency and productivity. Other top priorities identified by business leaders in the survey was a comprehensive tax review to improve competitiveness at 58 per cent, while 56 per cent said they want the government to streamline processes and expedite resource and major infrastructure projects. The poll comes ahead of the speech from the throne on Tuesday that is expected to lay out the new Liberal government's priorities. Prime Minister Mark Carney was elected last month on promises to improve Canada's economic resilience and nation-building projects in the face U.S. tariffs. The KPMG report says that 76 per cent of those surveyed say they are bracing for the worst and taking steps to prepare for a Canadian recession, given the ongoing trade uncertainty. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2025. The Canadian Press
