No interprovincial trade barriers by Canada Day? Why Carney faces uphill battle – National [Video]

The clock is ticking on one of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s signature promises — removing interprovincial trade barriers and making it easier for Canadians to trade with each other.

In his first post-election press conference on Friday, Carney reiterated his commitment to dismantle trade barriers by Canada Day. On Wednesday, Carney met with Canada’s premiers to brief them on his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and discuss ending interprovincial trade restrictions.

But experts say Carney is facing a tall order.

Carney’s proposal aims to get rid of federal barriers to interprovincial trade. There are also several trade barriers that are under provincial jurisdiction.

“The rules and regulations that are those interprovincial barriers that he wants to remove are not entirely within his control. He can’t compel provinces to remove their barriers,” Moshe Lander, economist at Concordia University, said.

The 2024 fall economic statementsaid Canada could increase its GDP per capita by as much as 4 per cent — or …