Overview

• Bill C-5 became law on June 26, aligning federal requirements with provincial standards and streamlining major infrastructure permitting under a “one project, one review” principle.
• Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia, Quebec, Yukon and other jurisdictions have signed memoranda or tabled legislation since April to cut interprovincial trade and labour mobility restrictions.
• Key exceptions such as dairy supply management, Quebec’s language requirements and credit union licensing remain unchanged under the current federal framework.
• Internal Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland has scheduled a July 8 meeting with provincial counterparts to tackle unresolved issues, with divergent trucking regulations topping the agenda.
• Experts describe Bill C-5 as a starting point, noting that full barrier removal will require extensive provincial cooperation and detailed regulatory work.