The State of Internal Trade: Canada’s Interprovincial Cooperation Report Card – 2024
As we mark the seventh anniversary of the Canada Free Trade Agreement, CFIB has released an updated report card evaluating Canadian government progress on internal trade. This year’s report grades governments in three areas, with the addition of a bonus indicator on leadership:
- Exceptions to the CFTA
- Select barriers to internal trade
- Implementation status of reconciliation agreements
- *New – Bonus indicator: Internal trade leadership over the past year
How much progress has been made on internal trade?
July 1, 2024 marked the 7th anniversary of the CFTA. Although we have seen some progress made under the agreement, significant efforts are still needed to truly make a difference for Canadian businesses and consumers. Through our annual report card, CFIB is holding governments accountable to ensure continued advancement.
- In 2024, the federal government introduced the Canadian Internal Trade Data and Information Hub – a new central repository of internal trade and labour mobility data from FPT governments.
- In Budget 2024, the federal government took a bold step forward by announcing the removal of 14 CFTA exceptions related to procurement.
- In summer 2023, the Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table (RCT) launched an online portal for Canadians to identify potential regulatory barriers to trade, investment, labour mobility, and potential areas for regulatory cooperation.
Pictured: Laura Jones, CFIB’s Executive Vice-President presents Canada’s trade ministers the Golden Scissors Award for the signing of the new Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) in July 2017.
