Federal Government Tables Bill on Interprovincial Trade Barriers

The federal government has introduced Bill C-5, the Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act, along with the Building Canada Act—a welcome step toward addressing long-standing barriers that impact Canadian retailers, including restrictions on labour mobility and inconsistent regulations across provinces. The government has an ambitious timeline and aims to have the bill passed by the end of June.

While the proposed legislation represents positive momentum, its scope is limited to federal barriers. The majority of challenges remain under provincial jurisdiction. RCC will continue working with federal and provincial partners, as well as other business associations, to advocate for the full elimination of interprovincial trade barriers.

To strengthen our advocacy efforts, RCC encourages members to share specific examples of trade barriers they’ve encountered. These insights are critical to shaping our discussions with governments. Please contact Matt Poirier at mpoirier@retailcouncil.org.