Ontario Chamber report gives Canada’s premiers an interprovincial trade reform roadmap

(TORONTO – July 15, 2026) – As Canada’s premiers prepare for their Council of the Federation on July 21-23, a new Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) report provides a roadmap to accelerate progress and renew momentum toward a single Canadian economy. 

Today, the OCC released Towards a Single Canadian Market: Findings from the One Canada Summit, a new report outlining practical steps governments and regulators can take to strengthen Canada’s economy. Its recommendations flowed from the recent One Canada Summit the OCC co-hosted with the Toronto Region Board of Trade.

“Canada can’t afford to leave internal trade half-finished, and it must remain at the top of the premiers’ agenda,” said Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “A single Canadian economy would open new markets for business, connect talent to jobs, lower costs for consumers, get homes and infrastructure built faster, and catalyze new investment in Canada. And as the largest provincial economy, Ontario must continue to lead.” 

Drawing on input from business leaders, regulators, government officials, and industry stakeholders, the report identifies concrete actions to advance regulatory harmonization, strengthen labour mobility, improve transportation and trade-enabling infrastructure, reduce barriers to investment, and expand market access for Canadian businesses. It also calls on governments to adopt international and national standards by default, establish and publish clear targets, and strengthen political accountability for implementation.

Key recommendations in the report include: 

• Advance labour mobility by establishing a common national credential recognition framework, reforming regulatory mandates, and building digital credential infrastructure to make it easier for workers to move across provinces.  

• Support housing and construction by accelerating building code harmonization, creating a national framework for modular and factory-built housing, and integrating climate resilience into housing standards.  

• Improve transportation by developing a national transportation and trade corridor strategy, while strengthening enforcement, training, and coordination across jurisdictions.  

• Strengthen capital mobility by bringing the whole country into Canada’s securities passport system, reducing regulatory duplication, and improving conditions for investment and capital formation. 

• Expand market access for food, beverages, and goods by supporting producers seeking interprovincial market access, protecting critical agri-food infrastructure, and advancing direct-to-consumer alcohol agreements between provinces. 

 “Canada’s economy succeeds when people, goods, services, and investment can flow smoothly to opportunities,” added Tisch. “An integrated Canadian market will help businesses scale more easily, strengthen supply chains, and unlock growth that benefits workers and communities across the country.” 

The Ontario Chamber expressed its appreciation to its report partners: CFA Societies Canada, CSA Group, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Portfolio Management Association of Canada, and the Securities and Investment Management Association. 

Read the report here. 

— 30 —  

About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce 

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is the indispensable partner of business and Canada’s largest, most influential provincial chamber. It is an independent, non-profit advocacy and member services organization representing a diverse network of 60,000 members. The OCC convenes, mobilizes, and empowers business and local chambers in pursuit of its purpose: to bring inclusive and sustainable prosperity to Ontario’s businesses, workers, and communities. 

For more information, please contact: 

Andrea Carmona 
Director of Public Affairs 
Ontario Chamber of Commerce 
andreacarmona@occ.ca | Mobile: 647 234 0255 

Background
The report follows the One Canada Summit, hosted by the OCC and the Toronto Region Board of Trade in May 2026. The Summit brought together 100 business leaders, regulators, government officials, and industry stakeholders to identify barriers that continue to impede the free movement of goods, services, workers, and capital across Canada, and to develop practical solutions to address them.