The high cost of interprovincial trade restrictions in Canada
Breaking down barriers would boost the quality of life for Canadians
Breaking down barriers would boost the quality of life for Canadians
A number of restrictions inhibit labour mobility, as well as the free trade of goods and services. And trade barriers add regulatory burdens on businesses
Alberta’s consumers, businesses and governments were responsible for $31.4 billion of Ontario’s total interprovincial trade in 2016 alone
If the European Union with 27 very diverse countries and several languages can do it, why can’t Canada?
Eliminating trade barriers can help accelerate the economic recovery
We are too dependent on two of our top three customers: the U.S. and China. And both of these are increasingly hostile
Interprovincial trade constraints cost the Canadian economy as much $130 billion a year and may harm international trade
Centralization undermines bottom-up co-ordination already underway between the provinces and territories
Report says barriers cost between $3,500 and $9,200 per Canadian household every year
The good news is the Constitution guarantees free trade among provinces. But do federal officials have the political will?
The annual national price tag for maintaining internal barriers may top $130 billion
Government-erected barriers mean firms have few incentives to improve efficiency, cut costs and satisfy consumers
Studies suggest these constraints cost the Canadian economy up to $130 billion a year. But we can change that