Canada's Grades Over the Years on Internal Trade

Free and open internal trade is vital to the success of small business across Canada. When entrepreneurs can sell goods and services, and workers can move seamlessly across provincial and territorial borders, they gain access to larger markets, reduce costs, create more jobs, and unlock innovation and economic growth nationwide.

Yet, despite the signing of the Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) in 2017, progress to reduce and eliminate internal trade barriers has been slow, with limited political will to drive meaningful change.

In response, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) launched Canada’s Interprovincial Cooperation Report Card in 2022 – a first-of-its-kind tool that evaluates and tracks the actions of federal, provincial, and territorial governments in reducing trade barriers. This map is part of CFIB’s ongoing effort to hold governments accountable, highlight key areas for improvement, and encourage real progress toward a truly open Canadian market.