Where is talk of interprovincial trade and labour mobility this election?

(TORONTO- May 20, 2022) – Today, Rocco Rossi, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), released the following statement calling on all parties to commit to addressing interprovincial barriers to trade and labour mobility.

“Some of the issues we have been talking about this election, such as labour, supply chains, and affordability, could be alleviated if we removed barriers to interprovincial trade and labour mobility. The lack of consistent or harmonized regulation across provinces and territories not only harms productivity but costs Canadians money.

“Economic activity is hampered by inconsistent rules around transportation, the environment, securities, professional certification, marketing, and more. According to a recent study by Deloitte, removing interprovincial trade barriers would increase Ontario’s GDP by $23 billion and annual provincial tax revenues by $5 billion. As our economy recovers from the pandemic, it is more important than ever to ensure local businesses can make the most of the domestic market.

“These barriers also harm workers. Differences in professional licensing and certification requirements mean labour mobility is unnecessarily curtailed. There is no reason why a skilled tradesperson or professional with relevant experience in one province or territory should face administrative barriers making it more difficult to work in another. As Canada’s workforce continues to age, and our labour challenges worsen, policymakers need to quickly identify solutions to support the free flow of talent and labour across Canada’s internal borders.”

“We need Ontario’s next government to take bold action to remove barriers to interprovincial trade and labour mobility, and we call on all parties to make that commitment right now.”

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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce
For more than a century, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) has been the independent, non-partisan, indispensable partner of Ontario business. The OCC’s mission is to support economic growth in Ontario by defending business priorities at Queen’s Park on behalf of its network’s diverse 60,000 members.

For more information or to arrange an interview:
Michelle Eaton
Vice President, Public Affairs
michelleeaton@occ.ca| Mobile: (647) 261-4594

Backgrounder: Vote Prosperity
As outlined in OCC’s election priorities document,  Vote Prosperity, parties should be focused on policies that result in more prosperous communities, improved business confidence, high-quality jobs, and a more resilient economy. This requires:

• Boosting confidence and predictability by modernizing regulation, committing to meaningful consultations, and developing a long-term plan to tackle Ontario’s debt without increasing taxes or cutting valuable programs and services.
• Implementing pro-growth policies through helping businesses access the capital, markets, and talent they need to grow.
• Building resilient communities by bolstering health care capacity, addressing climate change, and bridging our infrastructure gaps, including housing.
• Supporting entrepreneurship and innovation with targeted supports and a bold approach on technology adoption and data innovation.

The recommendations outlined in OCC’s Vote Prosperity were developed together with businesses, associations, post-secondary institutions, as well as chambers of commerce and boards of trade from across the province.

As the indispensable partner of business, we look forward to putting our members’ issues front and centre this election. To ensure the next provincial election addresses the most important issues, we have developed Vote Prosperity. Read the full plan.