Agreement on Internal Trade

Public Consultations Project

At its earlier meeting, the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT) approved a major public consultations project to assist governments in identifying pragmatic and useful ways for improving internal trade, notably through the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).

The consultations project was intended to engage a broad cross-section of Canadians in dialogue concerning the state of the domestic market and internal trade. The Project had two sequential components:

Phase 1
Three regional meetings on internal trade each comprising three round tables (Business, Labour and Non-Governmental Organizations) were held in Saskatoon, Montreal, and Moncton, respectively.

The main themes to emerge from the regional meetings related to the enforceability of the AIT, improvements to how the AIT works, reducing trade barriers and protecting social, and regional programs, and labour, environmental and consumer standards.

Phase 2
The National Conference on Internal Trade was later held in Toronto, to review and discuss internal trade issues with a view to identifying initiatives for the considerations of Ministers. The Conference was organized and structured to provide as much balance and diversity as possible in presentations and discussions. The National Conference was comprised of five panels with two to five panelists each. The panel topics closely reflected the themes that emerged from the regional meetings. Participants were encouraged to ask questions and participate in the discussions.

The National Consultation Project on Internal Trade and Mobility provided a clear direction from Canadian private sector that more work should be done to promote, improve and expand the AIT. Alberta is committed to trade liberalization in Canada. Alberta businesses and private individuals are encouraged to take advantage of the AIT process whenever they encounter difficulties or obstacles when doing business in another province, territory or with the federal government.

Record of Previous Public/Stakeholder Consultations