Share
Lana Payne, Unifor National President, Originally published in The Hill Times
When we talk about building a new Canada through improved interprovincial trade and labour mobility, it’s tempting to think the biggest obstacles are bothersome regulations. But let’s not kid ourselves—what’s holding us back isn’t a patchwork of rules; it’s a patchwork of roads, rails, rivers, and rugged terrain.
Canada is vast. We have a country that spans oceans, mountain ranges, prairies, and arctic tundra—with weather, terrain, and distances that rival entire continents. A recent study from Statistics Canada found the main barrier to interprovincial trade isn’t regulation—it’s geography. Yet, governments and business groups focus on “cutting red tape” rather than building roads, rail lines, or the infrastructure that could actually move goods and people more safely and efficiently across provinces.
Let’s be clear: there are no tariffs blocking internal trade in Canada. Instead, “internal trade barriers” are often code for regulation—including health and safety rules, occupational credentials, local hiring policies, public ownership models, consultation and cooperation requirements with First Nations, Metis and Inuit populations, community benefit requirements, or special collective bargaining rights like those in the Newfoundland fisheries. These aren’t inconveniences, and they are hardly “red tape” —they’re hard-won policies that protect workers, communities, and our public interest.
Sure, regulations differ—but for good reason. What works on Manitoba’s flat highways won’t hold up in B.C.’s mountain passes. Brake inspections, fuel rules, and tire standards reflect real geographic and safety needs. In some cases, a single national standard just doesn’t make sense. What works in one region could be dangerous or inadequate in another. Yet, there’s increasing pressure to harmonize standards or adopt each other’s regulations under the banner of “mutual recognition.” Sounds cooperative, right? But for workers and the public, it can be a Trojan horse.
Here’s the problem: mutual recognition too often means recognizing the lowest common denominator. When one province cuts corners on health and safety, and another is forced to accept those standards for the sake of “trade efficiency,” we’re not building a stronger Canada—we’re racing to the bottom. Workers pay the price, not with paperwork, but with lower wages, weaker safety protections, and fewer rights.
Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, rightly warns that lower trade barriers cannot mean lower standards. If we harmonize, aim high or don’t bother. Our union supports discussions on harmonizing standards—but only if the goal is to strengthen Canada’s economy and good jobs.
Take labour mobility. In theory, making it easier for workers to move between provinces sounds great—especially in areas facing shortages. But too often, companies and governments use the push for mobility as an excuse to water down qualifications in the name of “efficiency.” Instead of addressing shortages by investing in training the solution becomes lowering the bar. That’s not mobility—that’s a shortcut that puts workers and public safety at risk.
For goods, it means investing in infrastructure: rail lines that don’t detour through the U.S., safer tank cars like the TC-117, and multi-modal hubs connecting marine, rail, road, and air freight. This must include better connections to and within the Territories, where expanding mining and supporting remote communities will be a major focus for future infrastructure investment.
And while we’re at it, let’s prioritize public passenger transport, too. Imagine a Canada where taking a train from Halifax to Winnipeg is as feasible as flying. Where there are more affordable and sustainable options for Canadians to visit their friends and family on land or in the air. That’s not just good for people—it’s good for business, environment, and national connection.
Canada was built on east-west connections. Our railways were never just about trains—they were about building a country. Somewhere along the way, we started looking south. And while trade with the U.S. remains essential, there’s never been a better time to turn our attention back home.
Expanding our trade internally means building bridges, literally and figuratively. It means understanding that regulation isn’t the enemy—neglect is. And it means recognizing that strong labour standards, safe infrastructure, and public investment aren’t costs—they’re nation-building tools.
Let’s grow interprovincial trade but not at the cost of workers’ rights. Let’s aim for more trade, not less protection.
