Learn how we are improving interprovincial trade across Canada.
Trade within Canada is an essential driver of the Canadian economy. Eliminating barriers to internal trade will help to lower prices, increase productivity, and help diversify markets for New Brunswick businesses.
It is more important now than ever that we strengthen our economy across Canada, including within our provinces and territories, as we face tariffs and trade challenges from the U.S. We are working together with Canada's leaders and their teams to make it easier to buy, sell, and work with each other across the country.
We are currently working to break down interprovincial trade barriers related to alcohol through amendments to the Liquor Control Act. These amendments, introduced on March 19, 2025, would benefit New Brunswick consumers by giving them a larger selection of Canadian products to choose from, allowing them to buy alcohol directly from a province or territory identified in the regulation and eliminating personal exemption limits on liquor for people entering the province.
The amendments would also allow New Brunswick producers to sell their products to other jurisdictions.
We are making it easier to trade and invest, by taking away nine New Brunswick specific exceptions that were previously allowed under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA).
Going forward, seven entities that were previously not subject to the CFTA will now have to follow procurement rules, fostering greater competitiveness. This includes:
We are also removing a procurement exception that was not being leveraged by public sector entities, that is, the procurement of any goods whereby the interprovincial movement is restricted by laws.
The ninth exception being removed relates to processing requirements for the mining sector. We are removing this exception, but it will not hurt our mining industry or our ability to oversee and regulate it.
Finally, we are narrowing the focus of the trade exception related to the fisheries and aquaculture sector. This exception will only stay in place for provinces and territories that have a similar restriction against New Brunswick.
Discussions with other federal, provincial and territorial governments has been positive. Everyone agrees that we should work together to improve trading within Canada. This will help our businesses and workers do well, even when things are increasingly uncertain and competitive within the global economy.
We're committed to keep working hand in hand with other leaders in Canada to advance trade, which will help our economy grow and create more opportunities for people throughout our country.