Internal trade minister suggests interprovincial barriers could crumble within a month

The issue of interprovincial trade barriers in Canada may soon be a thing of the past, as federal cabinet minister Anita Anand suggests that these regulations could be eliminated within a month. Anand, who serves as the minister of transport and internal trade, expressed her optimism during an announcement at the Port of Halifax, stating that significant progress has been made following a recent emergency meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers.

The urgency to address these barriers has been heightened by the threat of new tariffs being imposed on Canadian imports by the Trump administration. Anand emphasized the need for collective action to reduce these barriers, citing the potential benefits of lower prices, increased productivity, and a boost to the domestic economy.

The efforts to remove interprovincial trade barriers have been ongoing for decades, with the formal agreement in 1995 to eliminate impediments and the subsequent Canadian Free Trade Agreement in 2017. Despite these agreements, there are still regulations and standards that hinder the free movement of goods and services between provinces.

Some of the remaining barriers include restrictions on the sale of alcohol, technical standards for vehicles, and regulatory requirements for licensing and paperwork. The federal-provincial committee tasked with removing these barriers is still working on various items, such as establishing a Canada-wide standard for safety apparel and addressing size and weight restrictions for transport trucks and food inspections.

If these barriers are successfully removed within the 30-day deadline set by Trump, it would mark a significant achievement and a turning point in the history of Canadian trade. The momentum and commitment from all parties involved suggest that tangible progress is being made towards a more seamless and efficient interprovincial trade system.