Cutting Red Tape for Interprovincial Trade

Summary#

• This bill aims to make it easier to sell goods and services across provincial borders inside Canada. It pushes “mutual recognition,” meaning if something is allowed for sale under another province’s rules, New Brunswick will generally accept it too.

• The goal is to cut red tape, support trade within Canada, and align with the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), while keeping key safety and public rules in place.

• Key changes:

  • Goods and services that meet another province’s rules will be treated as meeting comparable New Brunswick rules, unless exceptions apply.
  • Sellers who need New Brunswick certification can get it if they hold comparable certification from another province and are in good standing. They cannot do more here than New Brunswick allows.
  • New Brunswick regulators decide if another province’s rules or certifications are “comparable.” If not, they can issue a temporary order to keep New Brunswick’s rules in place and must publish a notice.
  • The government can make regulations to set limits or exceptions, including listing goods or services that must still meet New Brunswick rules.
  • This law does not apply to services that only regulated professions can provide (handled under a separate New Brunswick law), or to goods and services covered by CFTA exceptions.

What it means for you#

• Consumers

  • You may see more products and services available in New Brunswick from other parts of Canada.
  • More competition could help with prices and choice.
  • Safety and other use rules in New Brunswick still apply. For example, how a product can be used here must follow New Brunswick law.

• Sellers and businesses (in or outside New Brunswick)

  • If your product or service is approved under another province’s rules, it will generally be accepted for sale here without having to re-do New Brunswick-specific rules.
  • If New Brunswick requires a certification to sell, you can get New Brunswick certification if you hold a comparable one elsewhere in Canada and are in good standing.
  • Your work here is limited to what New Brunswick allows (no broader “scope of practice” than local rules).
  • Be aware that regulators can decide another province’s rules are not comparable and can keep New Brunswick requirements in place temporarily.

• Regulated professions (like those covered under New Brunswick’s Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Act)

  • This bill does not apply to services that only regulated professionals can provide. Your recognition and licensing are handled under a different law.

• Regulators (government bodies that set or enforce rules)

  • You must assess whether other provinces’ rules or certifications are comparable to New Brunswick’s.
  • If they are not comparable, you can issue a time‑limited interim order to maintain New Brunswick rules and must publish a notice and inform the Minister.
  • You have legal protection for good‑faith actions under these parts of the law.

• General

  • If this law conflicts with existing New Brunswick rules, this law usually prevails, except when a valid interim order is in place.
  • The Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs runs the program and can make agreements with other governments to implement it.
  • The law will start on a date set by the government.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents’ View#

• Reduces internal trade barriers and “double paperwork,” making it easier and faster for businesses to sell across Canada.
• Can lower costs and increase choice for consumers by bringing in more competition.
• Aligns New Brunswick with the Canadian Free Trade Agreement’s goal of freer trade within Canada.
• Keeps public protections, because New Brunswick’s usage rules still apply and regulators can step in with temporary orders if another province’s standards are not comparable.
• Speeds up certification for sellers who are already vetted and in good standing elsewhere in Canada.

Opponents’ View#

• May limit New Brunswick’s ability to set higher or unique standards if it must accept products or services approved elsewhere.
• Risk that lower standards in one province could affect quality or safety if accepted here.
• Could put local businesses under pressure from increased out‑of‑province competition.
• Adds workload and judgment calls for regulators, and temporary orders could create uncertainty for businesses.
• Gives broad power to the government to set exceptions by regulation, which some may see as too much flexibility without full legislative scrutiny.