Nova Scotia to introduce bill to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers: premier

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston stands at the podium as he joins Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford on his campaign stop at HPG, a manufacturing facility in Milton, on Thursday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

MILTON, ONT. — Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston made a surprise appearance on Ontario’s election campaign trail Thursday, where he announced his province will table legislation to reduce interprovincial trade barriers.

Houston made the announcement as he introduced fellow Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford at a campaign event in Milton, Ont.

With the threat of potential U.S. tariffs hanging over Canada’s economy, Houston decried the “foolishness” of making businesses deal with the “painful nuances” of trying to sell across 13 jurisdictions. The premier said it’s time for things to change.

“It’s time to protect Canadian companies by opening access to all 40 million Canadian consumers,” said Houston. “We’ve made laws and barriers that actually suggest that a frozen meat pizza made in Nova Scotia is safe for Nova Scotians, but not Ontarians. Give me a break.”

Houston said the bill -- which has yet to be tabled but he said will be called the Free Trade and Mobility Within Canada Act -- would allow Canadian goods and services to be sold in Nova Scotia without the need for further testing or red tape in the province. He gave the examples of roofers, teachers and health-care workers as service providers who would benefit from the changes.

However, the lifting of restrictions would only apply to provinces and territories that pass similar legislation, and Houston called on them to follow Nova Scotia’s lead.

“Folks, it’s a two-way street and my message to other provinces and territories is do your part and we will do ours,” he said, adding that Ford, the incumbent premier of Ontario, is “on board” with the Nova Scotia approach. “If everyone gets on board the best affordable option will be the Canadian option,” Houston said.

The premier also took the opportunity to call for an energy pipeline running from west to east that he said would help reduce Atlantic Canada’s dependence on energy from the United States.

Houston is preparing to head to Washington, D.C., to attend the National Governors Association winter meeting, where he will lobby against the 25 per cent tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 20, 2025

-- With files from Allison Jones in Milton, Ont.