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HALIFAX — Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has followed through on his promise to introduce a bill aimed at reducing interprovincial trade barriers, in an effort to boost the economy amid tariff threats by the U.S. president.
However, he said Tuesday, provisions in the bill would only be extended to provinces or territories that adopt similar legislation.
“It’s a common sense change that I think Canadians are expecting,” Houston told reporters after tabling the bill. “We are comfortable being the leader on this, but of course we need other provinces to follow and to co-operate.”
Houston said his government’s Free Trade and Mobility within Canada Act is aimed at spurring the mutual recognition of goods, services and labour mobility across all sectors of Canada’s economy.
Under the act, goods manufactured and produced in another province or territory that passes similar legislation would be treated the same as products produced in Nova Scotia. Houston said the move would eliminate the need for additional fees or testing requirements for goods coming to Nova Scotia from other Canadian jurisdictions.
The act would also allow service providers and licensed professionals who are properly certified to be recognized as if they were licensed in Nova Scotia.
As well, Nova Scotia would not apply any exceptions or “carve outs” in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement with a province or territory that passes a similar bill. Exceptions apply to detailed provisions in existing legislation that could be interpreted as a barrier to trade.
The bill does not apply to Canada’s supply management system, which allows the poultry, eggs and dairy sectors to limit supply and control pricing.
Houston said his government is signalling that Nova Scotia is open for business as the threat of tariffs by the United States looms over the Canadian economy. The premier first announced his intention to proceed with legislation last Thursday during an Ontario election campaign event with fellow Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford.
“I have had extensive discussions with Ontario and I’ve reached out to all of my premier colleagues yesterday (Monday), so I’ll start to hear back from them over the next couple of days,” Houston told reporters Tuesday. “I’m excited and I’m optimistic.”
Opposition NDP Leader Claudia Chender called the new bill a “first step” but added that more information is needed.
“We need to understand what he (Houston) is going to do about procurement and we still need to understand how local businesses will be supported through this and how workers are going to be supported if and when this comes to pass,” Chender said.
Interim Liberal leader Derek Mombourquette said his party supports more interprovincial trade and wants to see the province do more to increase its export markets.
About 48 per cent of Nova Scotia’s exports are within Canada. In 2023, the value of the province’s interprovincial exports was nearly $29 billion.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 25, 2025.
Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press