Recent modelling from the International Monetary Fund and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation showed that removing those frictions could boost growth and unlock badly needed housing supply.
Estimates pointed to as much as a 7% lift in real GDP and roughly 30,000 additional housing starts a year if non‑geographic barriers are dismantled.
“Canada has seen more movement on internal trade over the past year than we have in nearly a decade,” said Keyli Loeppky, CFIB’s director of interprovincial affairs.
“The signing of the Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement (CMRA) on the Sale of Goods and the introduction of mutual recognition legislation show governments are serious about tackling barriers. But momentum alone isn’t enough – businesses need clear rules, consistent implementation, and fewer exceptions.”
Small firms still face duplicative testing, inconsistent provincial regulations and restrictions on moving goods and services across borders, CFIB’s latest State of Internal Trade report found.