Houston pushes for momentum on free trade within Canada

Nova Scotia's premier is hoping to build momentum on freeing up trade within Canada, as the country deals with the economic stress caused by tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Tim Houston told reporters Wednesday that while the country's premiers acknowledge internal trade barriers have to come down, he was "less than impressed" with the urgency of some unnamed trade ministers during a meeting in Toronto last Friday.

The premier, who is also Nova Scotia's trade minister, took part in the Committee on Internal Trade meeting with federal Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand.

"We actually had trade ministers who were talking about a 12-month study going across the country and looking at different regulations in different provinces," said Houston. "Obviously, that's way out of touch with what's necessary in this moment."

Still, Houston believes progress can be made in eliminating trade barriers.

"At the premiers level, there is an acknowledgment that this has to happen," he said.

"Canadians want this, premiers want this and the federal government definitely wants it. So I believe we can make progress, and I think Nova Scotia will have to continue to lead the way."

Houston's Progressive Conservative government tabled legislation last week aimed at eliminating trade barriers with provinces that pass similar legislation.

Under the Free Trade and Mobility within Canada Act, goods manufactured in another province or territory would be treated the same as products produced in Nova Scotia.

Houston has said the move would eliminate the need for additional fees or testing requirements for goods coming to his province 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.

So far, Ontario is most supportive of Nova Scotia's move, along with British Columbia, while provinces such as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are also looking at the proposal, Houston said.

"We'll keep pushing," he said. "I believe that when Ontario joins on, being the biggest province, we will see some real momentum."

Last week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford turned to social media to say, "Count me in," when he responded to Nova Scotia's legislation. B.C. Premier David Eby said he, too, was interested.

"British Columbia continues to push … for a mutual recognition approach," said Eby. "This is where if it's good enough for your province, it's good enough for our province with a limited list of exceptions where necessary, but ideally none."