Manitoba bill looks to knock down interprovincial trade barriers

Manitoba’s Bill 47 would fight the red tape hindering interprovincial trade

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Published: May 22, 2025

New Manitoba legislation would create mutual recognition zones between provinces to streamline trade.

A new bill tabled in Manitoba’s legislature hopes to further break down interprovincial barriers, the provincial government said May 22.

Bill 47, the Fair Trade in Canada Act, is based on mutual recognition with other provinces, according to Manitoba’s trade minister, Jamie Moses. The bill would let the province designate other provinces or territories with similar legislation as a “reciprocating jurisdiction,” and steamline the trade of goods and services. Goods and services from those areas would then get special status, noting that they meet comparable standards and approvals in Manitoba.

The bill could also kick in with similar legislation from the federal government.

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It would not, however, apply to goods and services from a Crown corporation.

WHY IT MATTERS: Trade tensions with the U.S. have put more attention on knocking down interprovincial trade barriers than Canada has seen in years.

The move comes as Canada continues to wrestle with a tariff-laden trade landscape between its major trading partners, the U.S. and China.

Manitoba, along with other provinces and the federal government, have turned to addressing interprovincial trade barriers in an effort to foster more business at home.

“Through this legislation and co-operation with other provinces, territories and the federal government, we will unlock more economic opportunities for people across the country. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient economy that will support Manitoba workers and bring our country together,” Moses said.

Buy Canadian

The new legislation was announced alongside news that June 1 has officially been dubbed “Buy Manitoba, Buy Canadian Day.”

Consumers have been urged by local and federal politicians to keep their spending local and domestic in the wake of international trade tensions.

“Buy Manitoba, Buy Canadian Day” would be an annual event, a provincial release noted.

Building on co-operation

The May 22 announcements are the next step in economic co-operation following a memorandum of understanding signed between Ontario and Manitoba in mid-May

That agreement said both provinces would introduce legislation with a reciprocal mutual recognition framework to reduce trade barriers, following the example of other provinces, such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and British Columbia, who have all introduced similar legislation.

About the author

Miranda Leybourne

Miranda Leybourne

Reporter

Miranda Leybourne is a Glacier FarmMedia reporter based in Neepawa, Manitoba with eight years of journalism experience, specializing in agricultural reporting. Born in northern Ontario and raised in northern Manitoba, she brings a deep, personal understanding of rural life to her storytelling.

A graduate of Assiniboine College’s media production program, Miranda began her journalism career in 2007 as the agriculture reporter at 730 CKDM in Dauphin. After taking time off to raise her two children, she returned to the newsroom once they were in full-time elementary school. From June 2022 to May 2024, she covered the ag sector for the Brandon Sun before joining Glacier FarmMedia. Miranda has a strong interest in organic and regenerative agriculture and is passionate about reporting on sustainable farming practices. You can reach Miranda at [email protected].

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