Different requirements between provinces and territories can create internal trade barriers for products, services and professionals. The Standards Council of Canada’s (SCC’s) work helps to align these requirements and supports free trade in Canada.
Although it may be easy for most Canadians to travel across provincial and territorial borders, that’s not the case with many goods and workers.
Different rules, requirements and certifications between provinces and territories mean that, for example, a crane operator trained in one province or territory may not be qualified to work in another. These different rules can also make it easier for some Canadians to buy a bottle of wine from France than from British Columbia.
Sometimes, different requirements and regulations are needed. But other times, they cause technical barriers to trade (TBT) that create red tape for businesses without any tangible benefits.
Unnecessary internal trade barriers hurt Canada’s economy and put Canadian companies at a disadvantage. For consumers, these barriers often lead to higher costs and less choice.
Supporting the Canadian Free Trade Agreement
That’s why SCC works with industry and governments to support the implementation of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.
By supporting regulatory reconciliation—the process of aligning regulations across the country—through standardization alignment, SCC is helping to make Canadian companies more competitive, increase opportunities for Canadian workers and provide better prices for Canadians.
Making it Easier to do Business in Canada
SCC is helping to break down internal trade barriers by supporting the alignment of standards in federal, provincial, and territorial regulations. Through the leadership of SCC’s Provincial and Territorial Advisory Committee, SCC supports governments across Canada in identifying and prioritizing sectors in which standards alignment can assist regulatory reconciliation to the benefit of Canadians.
Helping to achieve the goal of having one standard and one test across Canada will move us toward freer trade in Canada. It will also result in a healthier, sustainable, and more competitive nation in the years to come.