Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Liberal government is on the verge of tabling landmark legislation aimed at breaking down internal trade barriers and increasing labour mobility within Canada. A bill has been placed on the House of Commons notice paper and could be introduced as early as today. This move comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney has pledged to create “one Canadian economy” by Canada Day, a commitment made against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump.
The legislation is a direct response to the “stop-and-go tariffs” imposed by the U.S., which have roiled Canada’s economy. Prime Minister Carney has been engaged in behind-the-scenes talks with President Trump on trade, and this domestic focus on internal trade is seen as a way to bolster Canada’s economic resilience. The initiative to remove interprovincial barriers to the trade of goods is also being pursued by several provinces, including Ontario and Quebec, reflecting a broader consensus on the need for greater economic integration within Canada.
However, the tight parliamentary calendar suggests that the legislation may not gain Royal Assent before the House rises for the summer, making Carney’s Canada Day target challenging. This internal trade push also follows recent meetings between Carney and the country’s premiers, where they discussed the need to fast-track major infrastructure projects across Canada