Ontario, Saskatchewan sign deal to reduce trade barriers, improve labour flow

Amid economic uncertainty in Canada due in part to U.S. tariffs, the governments of Ontario and Saskatchewan have reached an agreement with the aim of taking steps to reduce trade barriers between the two provinces.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Saskatoon on Sunday ahead of a first ministers' meeting there.

Ontario has already signed MOUs with Prince Edward island, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The MOU with P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz was signed earlier on Sunday.

Ford said the province is "standing up for free trade" within Canada by signing such agreements, adding that they're an attempt to offset the impact of U.S. tariffs on the Canadian economy.

"Our government is on a mission to protect Ontario and to protect Canada," he told reporters in Saskatoon.

"At a time when President [Donald] Trump is taking direct aim at our economy — and make no mistake about it, he wants to annihilate our economy, no matter if it's manufacturing in Ontario or any other jurisdiction that he can get his hands on, bring it down to the U.S. — and we're going to fight like we've never fought before, not just to protect Ontario but to protect the rest of our our country."

Ford said the agreement aims to not only increase the standard of living in Ontario and Saskatchewan but to improve investor confidence and allow for the free movement of their "best and most in-demand" workers.

"We're doing this by reducing barriers to internal trade.... We need to build a more competitive, more resilient, more self-reliant Canadian economy."

Saskatchewan's Moe said the MOU is "yet one more way that we are able to stand strong for our provinces, and collectively as provinces, stand strong for our country and all the people who call Canada home." He said both he and Ford have long been advocates of streamlining trade across the country.

"It shouldn't be easier to trade with other countries than it is to trade between the Canadian provinces of our nation," Moe told reporters.

"It's more important now, I would say, than ever for us to prioritize removing any and all barriers that we have that limit flow of trade and limit flow of professionals from moving across Canada," he added.

"It's very greatly appreciated to have another like-minded province join us on that front and to continue to put words into action."

Moe said the MOU contains mutual recognition and reciprocity — in particular, mutual recognition of goods, workers and investment. The agreement will only strengthen their respective economies, benefit workers and businesses and enhance the Canadian economy, he said.

According to the latest MOU, Ontario and Saskatchewan pledge to build on "enabling legislation" to remove internal trade barriers to boost the flow of goods, services, investment and workers, while maintaining and strengthening the levels of public safety and respecting the role of Crown corporations within some provincial industries.