No interprovincial trade barriers by Canada Day? Why Carney faces uphill battle
Global News
In his first post-election press conference on Friday, Prime Minister Mark Carney reiterated his commitment to dismantle trade barriers by Canada Day.
The clock is ticking on one of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s signature promises — removing interprovincial trade barriers and making it easier for Canadians to trade with each other.
In his first post-election press conference on Friday, Carney reiterated his commitment to dismantle trade barriers by Canada Day. On Wednesday, Carney met with Canada’s premiers to brief them on his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and discuss ending interprovincial trade restrictions.
But experts say Carney is facing a tall order.
“The rules and regulations that are those interprovincial barriers that he wants to remove are not entirely within his control. He can’t compel provinces to remove their barriers,” Moshe Lander, economist at Concordia University, said.
The 2024 fall economic statement said Canada could increase its GDP per capita by as much as 4 per cent — or $2,900 per capita — if it knocked down internal trade barriers.
“He (Carney) intends to introduce legislation by July 1. That legislation will look at everything from recognition of credentials (across provinces), trying to reduce those barriers, and even the idea of impact assessments (for large projects),” Darby said.
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