SASKATOON — In a move to counter rising economic pressures from the United States, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Sunday aimed at eliminating interprovincial trade barriers and boosting economic ties between the two provinces.
“With President Trump taking direct aim at Canada’s economy, we need to do everything we can to protect Ontario and Canadian workers by super-charging our own internal trade opportunities,” said Premier Ford. “Together, we’re building a more competitive, more resilient and more self-reliant economy.”
The agreement, signed ahead of the First Ministers’ Meeting in Saskatoon, supports Ontario’s broader plan to open domestic trade routes and improve labour mobility. Earlier this year, the province introduced the Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act to formally advance these efforts.
Ontario has also become the first and only province to eliminate all party-specific exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. The province says this leadership role in breaking down internal barriers could unlock up to $200 billion in economic growth nationwide.
Premier Moe echoed the urgency of action, stating, “Our province remains committed to removing restrictive barriers that limit the flow of trade. Today’s MOU between Saskatchewan and Ontario is just one of the ways we are unlocking the infinite potential that exists within our industries from coast to coast.”
A $326 Billion Interprovincial Trade Network
In 2023, Ontario recorded $326.6 billion in two-way interprovincial trade with other provinces and territories — exporting $183.9 billion and importing $142.7 billion, resulting in a $41.2 billion surplus.
The Ontario-Saskatchewan agreement builds on this foundation. In 2021, trade between the two provinces alone totaled $15 billion. Ontario has also launched a new $50 million Ontario Together Trade Fund to help local businesses seize new opportunities created by these cross-provincial agreements.
Thirty-five per cent of Canada’s total trade happens within its own borders, underscoring the growing importance of interprovincial commerce at a time when global trade volatility continues to escalate.
Building a More Resilient Canada
Ontario Minister of Economic Development Vic Fedeli emphasized the significance of the agreement: “At a time of unprecedented global economic uncertainty, it has never been more important for provinces and territories to tear down the internal trade barriers that are holding our economy back.”
The Ontario government says it will continue signing additional MOUs and working with federal, provincial, and territorial partners to enhance the country’s economic self-sufficiency from within.
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