Canada’s Parliament Approves Infrastructure, Trade Bill

Last week, the Canadian House of Commons approved Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, which would remove trade barriers and expedite nation-building projects.

As Connecting the Dots explained when the legislation was introduced earlier this month, regarding infrastructure, the One Canadian Economy Act would allow the federal government to determine whether a major project is in the national interest based on consultations with provinces, territories, and Indigenous Peoples. More specifically, each project would be evaluated based on whether it:

• Strengthens Canada’s autonomy, resilience, and security;
• Provides economic or other benefits to Canada;
• Has a high likelihood of successful execution;
• Advances the interests of Indigenous Peoples; and
• Contributes to clean growth and Canada’s objectives with respect to climate change.

Regarding trade, the One Canadian Economy Act seeks to remove federal barriers to free trade within Canadian borders “while protecting workers, the environment and the health and safety of all Canadians.” In cases where there is a federal barrier, the legislation would allow a good or service that meets comparable provincial or territorial rules to be considered to have met federal requirements for internal trade. For Canadian businesses, this step would make it easier to buy, sell, and transport goods and services across the country.

Regarding labor mobility, if enacted the legislation would provide a framework to recognize provincial and territorial licenses and certifications for workers so that a worker authorized in provincial or territorial jurisdiction can more quickly and easily work in the same occupation in federal jurisdiction.

The One Canadian Economy Act also aims to make it easier to do business across Canada by removing regulatory duplication and cutting federal red tape and by reducing costs or delays for Canadian businesses who follow comparable provincial and territorial rules. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration where lawmakers hope to approve it by Canada Day.

Read more at this link.