As the threat of U.S. tariffs looms, Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford says he’s committing to removing interprovincial trade barriers, saying Ottawa is the biggest barrier to getting Canadian resources to market.
On Thursday, Ford said if his party is re-elected, it will take multiple steps to improve internal trade. These include advocating for the removal of “unnecessary federal barriers and red tape,” enabling direct-to-consumer alcohol sales with willing provinces and territories and supporting labour mobility by recognizing certifications from other Canadian jurisdictions in key sectors like trucking.
“As we’re facing the biggest threat to our economic security and independence as a country, we need to rise to the challenge,” Ford said at an announcement in Milton, Ont.. “We need to strengthen the economic ties that bind our country together.”
Ford was joined by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, who said he was also in favour of removing barriers to trade among provinces.
Ontario’s Green, Liberal and NDP parties have made similar commitments this election campaign to remove or ease barriers to interprovincial trade.
Chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton speaks with Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand on internal trade barriers and the government’s efforts on tariffs during this 30-day pause. Plus, Rosemary also speaks with Marilyn Dib of Cedars and Co. Food Market about customers choosing to buy Canadian and how she’s prioritizing Canadian inventory at the store.
Federal Transport and Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand has said this month that interprovincial trade barriers could be removed within 30 days in light of tariff threats from the U.S. Removing those barriers could lower prices by up to 15 per cent, boost productivity by up to seven per cent and add up to $200 billion to the domestic economy, Anand said recently.
Ford said Thursday his party would also support pipeline projects to Canada’s northern coast, like Energy East and Northern Gateway, and expand nuclear power in the province. He called on the federal government to reduce red tape to speed up the export of critical resources.
“We need the federal government to get out of the way,” Ford said Thursday, calling Ottawa the “biggest barrier blocking us from getting our immense resources to market.”
No other major Ontario party is supporting pipelines. The Green Party is committed to getting the province off fossil fuel electricity by 2035.
With the Feb. 27 election date fast approaching, Thursday’s announcement marked the first time in more than a week that Ford took questions from reporters. Asked why he hadn’t been taking questions, Ford said he’d been part of two public debates since Friday, and has been “out in front of the people more than anyone.”