While the threat of a trade war between Canada and the United States looms, there has been an increased focus on finding solutions here at home. Part of that includes increasing calls to remove interprovincial trade barriers.
Responding to a reporter’s question Wednesday, Anita Anand, Canada’s internal trade minister, suggested that those could be removed within 30 days.
That’s something applauded by business leaders, but there’s a sense of skepticism.
“Thirty days would be a very tight timeline for that,” says Duncan Robertson, the director of legislative affairs for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) in Halifax.
“But governments are doing consultations right now around tariffs and interprovincial trade. We would like to see some work done quickly, understanding that this is a long-term goal.”
The Atlantic Chamber of Commerce has written to the four premiers of the region, urging them to “dismantle internal trade barriers.”
Rhonda Tulk-Lane, the regional chamber’s CEO, says any red tape that slows the movement of goods or business from coast to coast needs to be reviewed under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.
“We know this is going to take some time,” she tells CTV News. “The feds can’t go at this alone. We truly believe that the premiers really have a big role to play in this along with business.”
“Businesses are ready to break down the barriers and look for opportunities,” she says.
But conversations need to happen. She says, “Dialogue with anything around government regulations is critical.”
For the CFIB, “close to nine in 10 of our members across Canada are saying that it must be a priority for governments to reduce their interprovincial trade barriers,” says Robertson.
But it’s a longstanding issue, dating back to 1867 when Canada’s Constitution divided up federal and provincial power, says Doug Brown, a distinguished fellow at StFX’s Brian Mulroney Institute of Government.
“We need to find new markets,” the former political science professor says. “Finding them at home is one thing that we have within our own control.”
While it would require sacrifices from some provinces in particular, he says it would be worth it.
However, he warns trade negotiations can take time.
Still, Minister Anand said Wednesday, “We are making incredible fast-paced progress with all of the provinces and territories.”
“The work has already been occurring and the willingness to reduce interprovincial barriers to trade and add up to $200 billion to the Canadian economy is palpable.”
Nova Scotia response, premiers heading to U.S.
Nova Scotia says its 2023 American exports totalled $4.4 billion, with imports totalling more than $680 million.
A tariff response survey and hotline have been launched by the provincial government for business owners who deal with the U.S.
Premiers are heading to Washington next week to meet with policymakers and business leaders.
“These are big, important relationships,” Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston tells CTV Atlantic’s Todd Battis.
“I think we just want to make sure that we’re in front of American decision-makers, hopefully as close to the president as we can get.”
In a statement sent to CTV late Thursday, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says, “I’ve directed the civil service to go full steam ahead on improving interprovincial trade barriers.”
“There is a lot of good will and momentum from Canada’s premiers to work together on this and we hope to make Canadian goods and services move more freely across the country.”
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Vanessa Wright.
