Say goodbye to inter-provincial trade restrictions in Nova Scotia

The province announced that these limitations would disappear as other provinces table their own legislation or take other satisfactory steps. In a recent announcement Nova Scotia announced it would establish mutual recognition of goods, services and labour mobility between Nova Scotia and other jurisdictions in Canada who do the same for Nova Scotia including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island. And the Federal Government isn’t far behind.  

Mark Carney’s Liberals plan to introduce Canada-wide legislation that would open trade up in late June, if all goes to plan. For now, free trade is effective immediately between Nova Scotia, Alberta, and Prince Edward Island.  

This all started after Nova Scotia passed the Free Trade and Mobility within Canada Act in February 2025, which enables recognition of other provinces' standards for goods, services, and licenses. The goal is to build a stronger and more resilient Canadian economy.  

What does this mean for Nova Scotia?  

Nova Scotia is not just leading the way, it’s setting the standard. By eliminating interprovincial trade barriers, the province is paving the path for economic growth through job creation, streamlined business operations, and enhanced labour mobility. 

What does this mean for Small Businesses?  

While there is still more work to do to ensure small businesses feel the results of these changes on the ground, the removal of trade barriers is a good thing for small business owners. Here are the key reasons why:  

1. The market will get a whole lot bigger: Nova Scotian small business owners will have greater access to  markets in other provinces, allowing them to have expanded revenue streams.  

1. Improved labour mobility: Regulated professionals will be able to work across borders without worrying about licensing and credential requirements or lengthy wait times. 

1. Save money, save time: Forget changing packaging, updating labels, or following unique provincial requirements, Nova Scotia’s standards will accept those from other provinces too.  

Let us help your small business.  
When you become a CFIB member, we’ll look out for the needs of your business. Join now for full access to business resources, information on how we’re advocating for small business owners, exclusive discounts, and more. Thanks to our advocacy work, Nova Scotia received the top grade in Canada in this year’s CFIB Internal Trade Report Card. 

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