QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Internal Trade
Interprovincial Trade
February 24, 2026
My second question is related to a recent International Monetary Fund, or IMF, report highlighting the cost of interprovincial trade barriers — which you already answered questions about — as well as duplicative regulations and restricted labour mobility, significant productivity losses and a potential 7% boost in GDP left unrealized. These domestic constraints are fully within Canada’s control. While Bill C-5 is a step forward, it doesn’t go far or fast enough. Why is your government failing to deliver the one Canadian economy it promised? What additional measures are being taken to unlock our full internal economic potential?
Senator, you referred to the IMF report. We think that should encourage all of us, particularly our provincial and territorial partners, to take note of the very significant — which I agree with in terms of your question — economic upside to removing these barriers.
Many of them are properly within the sovereign constitutional jurisdiction of provincial or territorial legislative assemblies. The good news is the provinces are working with one another and with us. Some provinces are, for example, declaring that they will recognize, by default, labour mobility or labour force credentials. We have a patchwork quilt of provinces trying to lead the way. Our job is to encourage all of them to move as quickly as we can and to look at what federal instruments we have to encourage them to move as quickly as possible, with the full partnership of the Government of Canada.
I’m not pessimistic about the progress we can make. I recognize the urgency of the moment, as your question did. The good news is that as recently as January, which was a month ago, in a private dinner the night before the meeting and during the meeting on the Thursday — the day after — the first ministers committed to each other and to us to continue to make effective progress.
On that note, minister, as you said, provinces have a role, but there are clearly things that the federal government can do. Conservatives have supported common-sense reforms to unleash economic growth. I’m sure you’re aware of two very important bills.
Why won’t your government follow suit and repeal policies like Bill C-69 and Bill C-48, as well as other regulations that stifle our resources sector? This is something the federal government can do right now.
Thank you for the question, senator.
The House of Commons pronounced itself on those particular Conservative motions some time ago. We think the government is making very significant progress in partnership with the Government of Alberta. The memorandum of understanding that the Prime Minister signed with Premier Smith is a very important step forward. We are working diligently with our partners in Alberta, as well as other provinces and Indigenous groups, on the implementation of those commitments.
We regularly take stock. I chair a cabinet committee that is regularly updated on the progress of that work. I am optimistic that we will be a very good partner for the Government of Alberta within those industries and sectors that you have identified.
