The Alberta government has introduced legislation designed to reduce regulations and obstacles to simplify trade with other provinces.
The Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement on the Sale of Goods pact, which is set to come into force this summer, would enable provinces to recognize each other’s regulations for most consumer and capital products, eliminating redundant inspections and requirements.
The agreement excludes the sale of alcohol, cannabis, food, live animals, tobacco, or plants, and it allows provinces to uphold specific restrictions on items for health and safety purposes.
Alberta has said it plans to keep its own rules in place for some products such as pesticides, plumbing equipment, safety helmets, and gift cards, which the province requires to have no expiry date.
The province is also retaining the right to modify the list of goods by adding or removing items, which must continue to comply with Alberta regulations.
Schow said he anticipates the new regulations will significantly impact the province’s economy, even with items like alcohol being excluded from the deal.
“This is a great news story for small- and medium-sized businesses,” he said. “These are mom and pop shops, in some cases, where they don’t have a lot of staff, and the last thing they want to be dealing with is cumbersome regulation.”
He said it has sometimes been easier for Canadian businesses to sell products internationally rather than to other provinces.
Schow said the proposed provincial legislation aims to fix that by cutting “unnecessary red tape” so Alberta companies can trade across the country more easily.
The bill also outlines the procedure for establishing future mutual recognition agreements between provinces.
Legislation Impacts
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce vice-president of economy and engagement Heather Thomson told reporters having consistency across Canada will open doors for businesses and allow them to grow production.“This means more time spent on hiring, innovating, and selling,” she said at the press conference. “It gives Alberta businesses the competitive edge that they need to succeed, not just here, but across the entire country.”
Government officials told reporters before the bill was tabled that manufacturers in industries such as oil and gas, lumber and logging, and fertilizer producers will likely see the most positive impact once the pact takes effect.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) said it supports the proposed bill, which has passed first reading in the legislature.
Opposition NDP jobs critic Rhiannon Hoyle said the legislation is good news for businesses and the economy, but noted she would have liked to see it introduced sooner given the long-standing interest in removing trade barriers.
Provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia have already adopted similar legislative frameworks to implement the commitments made in the agreement last fall. Alberta officials told reporters the government purposely waited longer to implement its own legislation so it could study and learn from what other provinces did.
