Carney Government Introduces New Bill to Cut Trade Barriers, Help Workers and Speed Up Big Projects
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government introduced a new bill on Friday aimed at making it easier to do business across Canada. The proposed law, called the One Canadian Economy bill, would reduce trade barriers between provinces, help workers move between regions more easily, and speed up the approval process for big national projects.
“With this bill, we’re aligning federal rules with provincial and territorial ones to create one strong Canadian market, not 13 separate ones,” Carney said.
The goal is to allow more products and services to be sold across the country without extra rules getting in the way. That could lower prices for consumers and open up new business opportunities.
Why This Matters
Right now, different provinces have different rules for products, services, and job licenses. These rules are meant to protect local jobs but can also increase prices. According to Statistics Canada, these trade barriers make Canadians pay up to 14.5% more for the things they buy.
The new bill, Bill C-5, is just under 20 pages long. It would create two new acts:
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The Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act
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The Building Canada Act
The bill was introduced by Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Canada-U.S. Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs, with support from other ministers.
Carney said Canada has struggled in recent years to build large national projects because of complicated rules. “It’s holding our country back,” he said.
Making Trade Easier
The bill proposes a rule that if a product meets the standards of one province or territory, it should be accepted across Canada. For example:
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If a food product meets one province’s organic label rules, it would be accepted nationally.
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A washing machine that meets one province’s energy rules could be sold anywhere in the country.
The government says this will help businesses grow and give consumers more choices.
Helping Workers Move Across Provinces
The bill also aims to make it easier for workers to move between provinces without having to reapply for licenses or certifications. If someone is certified in one province, that certification could count at the federal level or in other provinces. This would help workers, such as doctors or tradespeople, find jobs more easily and help employers find more candidates.
There are also plans to create a 30-day service standard to recognize job credentials, so people don’t wait too long to get approved to work.
Making Big Projects Easier to Approve
Another big part of the bill is about speeding up how large national projects are approved. Carney wants to switch from asking “whether” a project should happen to figuring out how to make it happen.
Projects would need to meet certain criteria, including:
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Helping Canada’s economy or security
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Involving Indigenous groups in a meaningful way
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Supporting clean growth and climate goals
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Having a high chance of being completed
A new “Major Projects Office” would help organize permits, assessments, and consultations to make the approval process faster—cutting it from five years to just two.
Will Everyone Support It?
Some critics say the bill doesn’t go far enough. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called it “breadcrumbs” when Canada needed a bold move. He said the bill only removes a few trade barriers and does nothing to push provinces to take down their own rules.
The government also said it will remove more federal trade barriers by July 2025, including 20 that were already lifted before the last election. These changes don’t need to be part of the bill.
Experts say getting rid of trade barriers could add up to $200 billion to Canada’s economy.
With only two weeks left before summer break, the government is trying to move fast. Carney said the bill is a top priority and Parliament should stay open longer if needed to pass it.
