New Brunswick premier calls for ‘free trade area’ within Atlantic region [Video]

The premier of New Brunswick is calling on the other three East Coast premiers to join her in making Atlantic Canada a “free trade area” with a single market operating with one set of rules governing trade and labour mobility.

Premier Susan Holt sent a letter on Thursday to Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey.

In it, she said all provinces are working to loosen up regulations and strengthen interprovincial trade, but warns the provinces “must ensure that we don’t create a new patchwork of trade rules, especially within Atlantic Canada.”

She proposed establishing mutual recognition of regulations that affect the movement of goods, services and people within the region, as well as addressing the remaining barriers and irritants that limit trade within the Atlantic region.

The goal would be to allow businesses, investors and workers to move freely within …