TORONTO – Ontario Premier Doug Ford has signed new agreements with Alberta and Prince Edward Island to boost interprovincial trade and labour mobility, expanding the province’s network of internal free trade partnerships to six Canadian provinces.
Joined by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and PEI Premier Rob Lantz in Saskatoon ahead of the First Ministers’ Meeting, Premier Ford hailed the move as a crucial step to strengthen Canada’s internal economy as global trade pressures rise.
“With President Trump threatening our economy, there’s never been a more important time to boost internal trade and cooperation between provinces,” said Ford. “We’re helping Canada unlock up to $200 billion in economic potential and standing shoulder to shoulder to protect Canadian workers.”
Today, I signed agreements with @PremierScottMoe , Premier @ABDanielleSmith and Premier @RobLantz to tear down internal trade barriers between Ontario and Saskatchewan, Alberta and P.E.I.
It’s just the latest steps we’re taking to build a stronger, more competitive Canadian… pic.twitter.com/RIuOk4l40X
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) June 1, 2025
The new Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) signed today follow similar agreements Ontario has reached with Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Each deal aims to eliminate trade and labour mobility barriers between provinces, streamline regulations, and open pathways for qualified workers to operate across provincial lines.
Ontario has already introduced new legislation — the Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act — to backstop these agreements and solidify the province’s leadership on internal trade. According to the government, Ontario is the only province to fully eliminate all party-specific exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.
Premier Smith called the agreement “a big step toward a more open, competitive and united economy,” emphasizing Alberta’s commitment to eliminating outdated barriers and promoting workforce mobility.
PEI Premier Rob Lantz highlighted his province’s proactive approach: “Prince Edward Island may be Canada’s smallest province, but we’re punching well above our weight. This agreement proves that when provinces work together, the entire nation thrives.”
According to provincial data, Ontario’s interprovincial trade hit $326.6 billion in 2023, with today’s new signatories accounting for $64.2 billion of that total (Alberta: $62.4B; PEI: $1.8B). The government is also launching the $50 million Ontario Together Trade Fund to help businesses tap into new trade opportunities.
Ontario’s Minister of Economic Development, Vic Fedeli, said the agreements are another milestone in the effort to tear down outdated internal trade barriers and boost Canada’s competitiveness. “This is about ensuring true free trade and labour mobility exist within our own borders,” he said.
Follow GTA Weekly for more local news and updates. #GTAWeekly #GTAToday
Leave a Reply