In a recent opinion piece for The Hill Times, Jacques J.M. Shore, C.M. and Suzanne Sabourin argue that eliminating internal trade barriers—particularly in agriculture and agri-food—is a critical step toward boosting Canada's economic resilience. The article comes amid growing calls from government leaders and policy experts to address regulatory fragmentation that continues to impede the free flow of goods across provincial borders.

Writing at a time of geopolitical uncertainty, Shore and Sabourin emphasize that action on internal trade is no longer optional. They note that aligning food safety regulations across provinces could unlock new opportunities for Canadian producers, lower prices for consumers and help drive long-term growth.

"One would expect that food deemed safe for sale in Ontario would also be safe for sale across Canada. Unfortunately, this is not the way the system works... we have a system that is based on regulatory fragmentation, rather than regulatory alignment."

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