Ontario Signs Agreement to Unlock Free Trade with Saskatchewan
June 3, 2025
Agreement will grow both provincial economies by removing internal trade barriers
Ahead of the First Ministers’ Meeting in Saskatoon, Ontario Premier Doug Ford was joined by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will help grow both provincial economies by making them more competitive and advancing efforts to knock down barriers to trade across Canada.
“With President Trump taking direct aim at Canada’s economy, we need to do everything we can to protect Ontario and Canadian workers by super-charging our own internal trade opportunities,” said Premier Ford. “With both of us coming together today, we’re helping Canada unlock up to $200 billion in gains for our economy and we’re showing everyone how all of us premiers are standing up for Canada like never before. Together, we’re building a more competitive, more resilient and more self-reliant economy.”
To further break down trade barriers, the Ontario government recently introduced the Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act to boost opportunities for more cross-Canada commerce and help Ontario and Canada withstand the impact of U.S. tariffs and any other challenges that may come.
With this new legislation and a growing number of signed MOUs, Ontario is leading the country in expanding the trade of goods and services across Canadian jurisdictions, cutting unnecessary red tape holding back Canadian businesses and opening new pathways for the movement of qualified, in-demand workers throughout the country. Ontario was the first and so far only province or territory in Canada to eliminate all party-specific exceptions under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.
“Now is the time to take strong action to strengthen trade across Canada,” said Premier Moe. “Our province remains committed to removing restrictive barriers that limit the flow of trade. Today’s MOU between Saskatchewan and Ontario is just one of the ways we are unlocking the infinite potential that exists within our industries from coast to coast.”
Two-way trade in goods and services between Ontario and other provinces and territories was worth over $326 billion in 2023. The Ontario government will continue to work with its federal, provincial and territorial partners through the Canadian Free Trade Agreement and other trade-enhancing initiatives to advance interprovincial trade across Canada.
Quick Facts
- The total value of annual interprovincial trade between Ontario and Saskatchewan for 2021 (the most recent year for which figures are available) was $15 billion.
- In 2023, Ontario exported $183.9 billion of goods and services to other provinces and territories and imported $142.7 billion, resulting in two-way trade of $326.6 billion and a trade surplus of $41.2 billion.
- Ontario is launching the new $50 million Ontario Together Trade Fund to assist local businesses in taking advantage of new interprovincial trade opportunities.
- Thirty-five per cent of Canada’s overall trade takes place within its own borders.
Quotes
“At a time of unprecedented global economic uncertainty, it has never been more important for provinces and territories to tear down the internal trade barriers that are holding our economy back. Today’s agreement between Ontario and Saskatchewan moves Canada one step closer to ensuring true free trade and labour mobility exists within our own borders.”
– Vic Fedeli
Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
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Ontario Signs Agreements to Unlock Free Trade with Alberta and Prince Edward Island
Premier Doug Ford was joined by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prince Edward Island Premier Rob Lantz to sign Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) that will help grow all three provincial economies by advancing efforts to knock down barriers to free trade across Canada.
