Carney Vows ‘Free Trade by Canada Day’ in Push to Strengthen National Economy

Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled an ambitious plan to establish free trade between provinces and territories by Canada Day, aiming to remove internal barriers and boost the country’s economic growth. The announcement came following a meeting with premiers at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, where leaders agreed to develop a national trade strategy to promote seamless movement of goods, services, and workers across the country.

Carney vowed to eliminate federal exemptions under the existing Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), accelerating efforts to create a truly open domestic market.

“We intend, from a federal level, to have free trade by Canada Day,” Carney declared. He stressed that the plan will focus on breaking down restrictions in transportation, energy, and digital connectivity—areas where trade bottlenecks have long stifled productivity.

The prime minister emphasized that removing these hurdles could add $250 billion to the national economy, translating to roughly $6,000 per Canadian.

The renewed push for internal trade liberalization comes amid mounting tensions with the United States. Following President Donald Trump’s recent decision to slap a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, Canada responded by doubling its retaliatory tariffs on American goods.

Carney framed the free trade initiative as part of a broader effort to strengthen Canada’s economic resilience, making it less dependent on external markets.

To complement the trade initiative, Carney introduced a suite of economic measures designed to support Canadian businesses and workers facing uncertainty. These include:

• Suspending the one-week waiting period for employment insurance to provide quicker financial relief.

• Deferring corporate income tax and GST/HST remittances, giving businesses more financial flexibility.

• Launching a Large Enterprise Economic and National Security Facility, offering financial support to major companies.

• Introducing a “One Window” approval process to fast-track large infrastructure projects.

• Doubling the Indigenous Loan Guarantee program to $10 billion, increasing capital access for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis enterprises.

• Expanding support for regional development agencies.

• Lifting mobility restrictions for federally regulated professions, enabling workers to move more freely between provinces.

Carney highlighted the Cedar LNG project and LNG Canada in British Columbia, as well as the Port of Churchillin Manitoba, as examples of recent infrastructure advancements. He praised these projects as models of rapid economic development and expressed confidence that the free trade initiative would unlock even more opportunities.

“It’s high time to build,” Carney asserted, signaling his government’s commitment to accelerated growth and streamlined regulation.

As Canada heads toward a likely federal election, Carney’s sweeping trade reforms could become a key campaign issue, with major implications for businesses, workers, and consumers nationwide.