Ontario’s government introduced legislation Wednesday to remove all provincial trade barriers within Canada, a move officials claim could unlock billions in economic opportunities for workers and businesses.
The Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act would make Ontario the first province to eliminate all its exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), while establishing new “As of Right” rules to streamline labour mobility across provincial borders.
“For too long, we’ve let red tape and endless regulations hold back our economy, making us vulnerable to external threats, including from President Trump’s tariffs,” said Premier Doug Ford.
The legislation comes as Ontario attempts to shield its economy from potential U.S. trade disruptions while addressing internal trade barriers that cost the Canadian economy up to $200 billion annually, according to government figures.
Labour mobility measures
A key component of the legislation focuses on allowing certified workers from other provinces to begin working in Ontario immediately while completing registration requirements.
These measures would extend to health professionals, with the government planning consultations to potentially include American doctors and nurses under the same rules.
“By expanding labour mobility with new ‘As of Right’ rules, Ontario will allow certified workers from other provinces and territories to begin working in Ontario immediately while they complete a streamlined registration process,” the government stated.
Provincial partnerships
The province has signed memorandums of understanding with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to advance mutual recognition of goods, services and workers between jurisdictions.
“Ontario is New Brunswick’s second biggest trading partner, and we are excited to be building on the positive momentum to reduce internal trade barriers across Canada,” said New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt.
Supporting domestic purchases
The legislation also establishes an annual “Buy Ontario, Buy Canadian” day on the last Friday in June to encourage consumers to purchase locally-made products.
To help businesses expand into interprovincial markets, the province is launching a $50 million Ontario Together Trade Fund for companies seeking to develop new markets or reshore critical supply chains.
“In this time of tariff threats and uncertainty, empowering consumers to support locally made goods and homegrown talent is more important than ever,” said Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement.
Ontario conducted approximately $326.6 billion in interprovincial trade during 2023, making it Canada’s largest interprovincial trader.
