
Trade bill could trigger ‘race to the bottom’ in health standards, health groups warn
OTTAWA — Anti-smoking groups are warning the Carney government that its legislation to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers could undermine health standards unless it’s amended to add new safeguards.
But Interprovincial Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland’s office insists that the bill will not water down health or environmental laws.
The legislation, which the governing Liberals intend to push quickly through the House of Commons next week, looks to do two things — break down interprovincial barriers to trade and labour mobility and speed up approvals for major industrial projects, such as mines, ports and pipelines.
The bill would allow provincial standards to displace federal ones to make it easier to sell Canadian-made goods within the country.