Ottawa must take a more active role in removing interprovincial trade barriers to strengthen Canada’s economy, while respecting provincial jurisdiction and avoiding measures that could increase federal-provincial tensions, write Charles Breton and Valérie Lapointe from the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation at the Institute for Research on Public Policy. They propose five solutions, including annual reports tracking provincial progress, tying federal infrastructure funding to labour mobility, providing temporary financial assistance to businesses affected by trade liberalization and rewarding provinces that achieve measurable reforms. They also recommend establishing an independent internal market commission with provincial participation to identify trade barriers, monitor government commitments and improve accountability.
