The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is backing a newly announced mutual recognition pilot project for the trucking sector, a move set to reduce internal trade barriers and enhance the movement of goods across Canada.
The pilot project — introduced Sept. 26 by Anita Anand, minister of transport, and Dominic LeBlanc, minister of public safety, democratic institutions and intergovernmental affairs — aims to allow participating provinces and territories to recognize each other’s trucking regulations without compromising safety standards, marking a significant step toward improving efficiency in the industry.
Co-chaired by Newfoundland and Labrador and the federal government, the initiative brings together jurisdictions including Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut. These regions will commit to recognizing each other’s regulatory requirements, such as oversized vehicle signage, to facilitate smoother truck movements across provincial and territorial borders.
Eliminating internal trade barriers through mutual recognition could boost the economy by $200 billion annually, according to CFIB’s report. This pilot, which focuses on the trucking sector, is the first of its kind on this scale within Canada and is seen as a testing ground for broader future applications, including labor mobility.
“CFIB commends the federal government and Newfoundland and Labrador for co-chairing this pilot and encourages all jurisdictions to work collaboratively to ensure the successful implementation of the project. CFIB has taken note that several jurisdictions have not signaled their participation in this agreement and urges them to get on board prior to the next Committee on Internal Trade’s meeting,” said Keyli Loeppky, director of Alberta and interprovincial affairs, CFIB, in a news release.
“While CFIB would ultimately like to see a mutual recognition agreement that encompasses all federal, provincial, and territorial regulatory measures, we acknowledge that this pilot is an important first step towards that goal. CFIB looks forward to monitoring the progress of this initiative and engaging with stakeholders to ensure its success.”
