A truck transports natural gas across the N.B.-P.E.I. Confederation Bridge. P.E.I. recently announced agreements aimed at reducing inter-provincial trade barriers with New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. However, P.E.I.’s law that would actually drop trade barriers with these jurisdictions has yet to be put into effect. Photo by Contributed /Barrett & MacKay PhotographyArticle contentDespite reaching reciprocal agreements with four provinces, P.E.I.’s government has yet to put into effect its own law that would reduce or eliminate interprovincial trade barriers.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentSince July 30, P.E.I. has announced agreements with the provinces of New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Manitoba aimed at reducing interprovincial trade barriers. A similar agreement with Ontario was announced earlier this spring.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentP.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz has said the agreements would effectively mean regulations and standards, as well as most worker credentials, that are valid in these provinces would be equally valid in P.E.I.Article contentMany health-care workers, as well as lawyers, would be exempt and would maintain a certification process in P.E.I.Article content New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt, right, has signed a memorandum of understanding with P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz concerning free trade and labour mobility. ContributedArticle contentTrade and Mobility ActArticle contentThe agreements with N.B., Saskatchewan, Ontario and Manitoba align with P.E.I.’s Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act, a bill passed in the spring session of the legislature.Article contentThis bill, whose aim is to reduce trade barriers between Canadian provinces, requires other jurisdictions to have in place a similar law before reciprocal regulations from other provinces are recognized in P.E.I.Article contentHowever, P.E.I.’s Interprovincial Trade and Mobility Act has yet to be proclaimed and put into effect, the P.E.I. Premier’s Office has confirmed to The Guardian.Article contentArticle content“Work is underway to develop the regulatory framework required before it can be formally proclaimed,” reads an email to The Guardian by Emily Blue, press secretary for the Office of the Premier.Article contentArticle contentWhen the legislation was under debate in the spring session of the P.E.I. legislature, Lantz said he hoped the bill would be in effect by July 1. This has not yet happened.Article contentP.E.I.’s legislation was based on Nova Scotia’s Free Trade and Mobility within Canada Act, the first provincial law that explicitly set out that regulations made in one province would equally govern in another.Article contentBut Nova Scotia has yet to finalize a reciprocal agreement with P.E.I., its neighbour.Article contentAn order in council dated July 15 provided P.E.I.’s premier to enter into inter-provincial agreements with Alberta and B.C. These have not yet been finalized, Blue confirmed in an email.
P.E.I. yet to enforce internal trade barriers law, announces deals with four provinces
