Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, and the Anita Anand, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport, have announced the launch of a pilot project to mutually recognize regulatory requirements in the trucking sector.
Under this new trucking pilot, participating provinces and territories will commit to recognizing each other’s regulatory requirements, even where differences exist, such as oversized vehicle signage requirements, to allow trucks and the goods they carry to move across Canada more effectively, without compromising safety and security measures. The pilot, the first of its kind on this scale within Canada, will help governments test and measure what can be achieved through mutual recognition and will help drive future work in other important sectors of the economy, including labour mobility.
The ministers thanked the coalition of willing jurisdictions: Ontario; Nova Scotia; Manitoba; Prince Edward Island; Saskatchewan; Alberta; Newfoundland and Labrador; Northwest Territories; Yukon; and Nunavut for joining this effort to improve the efficient movement of goods — a crucial aspect to Canada’s productivity and affordability. The pilot project will be co-chaired by Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.
“Everyone benefits when we reduce economic friction, promote cooperation, and maximize opportunities in Canadian industries. By working together with our provincial and territorial colleagues, we can help improve productivity and create conditions for increased trade across the country. Today, our provincial and territorial colleagues are taking an important step in mutual recognition of regulatory requirements to enable trucks and their goods to move across Canada more efficiently and effectively. This pilot project is a perfect example of the results we can achieve by working together for the good of our economy, our businesses and all Canadians,” said Anand.
Mutual recognition agreements in key sectors, such as transportation and trucking, have the potential to boost Canada’s productivity and economic growth. Experts forecast that adopting mutual recognition as a means to reduce barriers to internal trade could increase Canada’s economy by $200 billion per year.
Over $500 billion worth of goods and services moves across provincial and territorial borders—equal to almost 19% of Canada’s gross domestic product. Last year, one-third of Canadian businesses participated in internal trade by buying or selling goods across provincial and territorial borders.
Canada announces pilot project to improve inter provincial truck movement
