Latest news with #interprovincialTrade
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Quebec tables bill to begin removing interprovincial trade barriers
Quebec has introduced legislation to start taking down barriers that frustrate interprovincial trade, the latest province to take such action as Canada's political leaders hunt for ways to boost economic growth to counter U.S. tariffs. Christopher Skeete, Quebec's minister for the economy, tabled a bill Friday that facilitates the trade of goods from other provinces and the territories of Canada through a unilateral recognition of product manufacturing standards. This means goods from outside Quebec legally 'commercialized, used or consumed' inside the province without complying with any additional regulations. The bill gives the government the power to exclude some goods from the effort, however, and it has to make those exceptions public. Opinion: How to win a trade war A second piece of the proposed legislation touches on labour mobility. It aims to reduce bureaucratic requirements and make it easier for workers in other provinces who have professional certification to have those credentials recognized in Quebec. Boosting interprovincial trade is 'a priority, particularly in our current climate of uncertainty,' Mr. Skeete said in a statement. 'Our actions will allow us to build an ever more resilient and productive economy without compromising our values and what sets us apart." Premiers, federal politicians and business leaders across the country have been discussing opening up trade within Canada to shore up the country's economy, amid the loss of access to U.S. markets because of the current and potential future tariffs imposed by the White House on Canadian goods. Quebec is the fifth province to introduce or adopt bills aiming to eliminate trade barriers, following Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Manitoba also tabled legislation but it's not as comprehensive as that of the other provinces, according to the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI), a free-market think tank. Quebec's bill is 'a major breakthrough for interprovincial trade,' said Gabriel Giguère, MEI senior policy analyst. Still, he warned that the longer its list of exceptions is, the more limited the benefits will be. Eliminating all trade barriers between Quebec and all other Canadian provinces could boost Canada's gross domestic product by $69.9-billion, the MEI estimates. The elimination of trade barriers between Quebec and Ontario alone could boost the country's GDP by $32.2-billion, it says.
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Quebec bill would let goods from other provinces bypass local rules
Quebec is moving to lower interprovincial trade barriers, with some exceptions. Minister for the Economy Christopher Skeete has tabled a bill to remove all restrictions on the use and sale of products from other provinces. It also states that the government can exclude some goods from the bill and must publish a list of exceptions online. The proposed legislation comes amid a push by provinces and the federal government to lower interprovincial trade barriers in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. The bill states that goods from other provinces and territories may be "commercialized, used or consumed" in Quebec without further requirements relating to their manufacturing, composition or classification.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reducing internal trade barriers tops priorities for businesses: KPMG poll
TORONTO — 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 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBC
09-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
P.E.I. premier optimistic Carney can rebuild bridges as Albertans talk separation
P.E.I.'s premier connected with Prime Minister Mark Carney this week for the first time since the federal election, as tensions around Alberta's independence continue to simmer. Rob Lantz and Canada's other first ministers spoke virtually with Carney, and P.E.I.'s Progressive Conservative premier said interprovincial trade and "nation building" were high on the agenda. "There was a fair amount of discussion about the west being able to pursue their interests," Lantz said Thursday. "I think that's in the national interest of the economy and it's in the national interest of unity. I think there's a consensus right across the country that the western [provinces] need to be treated a bit differently." While the theme of national unity helped shape April's federal election as U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war continued, complete with threats to Canada's sovereignty, not every province has been feeling the warmth. Carney's Liberals won another mandate to form government on a national scale, but Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives swept nearly every riding in Alberta. That province's premier, Danielle Smith, has openly discussed the idea of a possible referendum on separating from Canada. Smith has said she personally does not support her province separating from the federation, but she is proposing to lower the number of signatures needed to put a referendum question on the ballot in 2026, and said she would honour a valid petition to hold one. When asked about Smith's referendum legislation during a news conference this week, Carney, who grew up in Alberta, said Canada is stronger when the provinces work together. 'There's a real willingness' Lantz said it's troubling to hear those discussions, while provinces like P.E.I. are trying to rally against U.S. tariffs, but he was optimistic that Carney can rebuild some bridges. "There was an acknowledgement from many of the premiers outside of the western premiers who maybe sympathize, I would say, with some of the frustration in the west," he said. "We can do better in this country in terms of self-reliance, energy independence, building our own economy from within. I think it couldn't have gone better, to be quite honest. — P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz on the Carney-Trump meeting "So I think there's a real willingness there to work with our western premiers… to resolve those differences and strengthen our economy at the same time." The premiers will meet in person with the prime minister in Saskatoon next month. Meanwhile, this week's meeting was also the first since Carney travelled to Washington to meet with Trump on Tuesday. Lantz said there is much work left to do in de-escalating the trade war between the two countries, but he added that there was optimism for more engagement with the American administration after this week. "Fair to say that the consensus was that we were all happy with how that meeting went. The tone of the meeting was good," he said.
