Barriers and Bridges: Rethinking Trade Within the Federation

Interprovincial trade opens up new possibilities for the economic future of the federation. This series provides an overview of recent changes in trade between Canadian provinces, analyzes the challenges for the country’s economy, and offers concrete proposals to help Canada achieve its ambitions.

The Canadian Free Trade Agreement: A Quebec Perspective

Philippe Couillard

The Growing Influence of Provinces in Canada’s Trade Negotiations

Stéphane Paquin

From Exclusion to Shared Prosperity: The Vital Role of First Nations in Canada’s Economic Future

Maryse Picard

An “Expedient” Union: Federal Leadership and the Imperative of Internal Trade

Marion Sandilands

A Call for Coherence: Variation in Recent Legislative Approaches to Remedy Internal Trade Barriers

Ryan Manucha

Reforms That Stick: A Roadmap for Strengthening Canada’s Internal Market

Daniel Teeter, Christopher Cotton

The Politics of Internal Trade: Narratives, Public Opinion and Canadian Federalism

Diya Jiang, Daniel Béland and Trevor Tombe

About the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation

The Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation is a permanent research body within the Institute for Research on Public Policy. Its mission is to build a deeper understanding of Canada as a federal community.

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June 27, 2025

Barriers to interprovincial trade are falling. What comes next might be even more important

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