OTTAWA, Canada – Canada’s new government has a mandate to build big, build bold, and build now. On Friday, prime minister, Mark Carney, welcomed the passing in the House of Commons of Bill C-5, One Canadian Economy Act.
“Today’s passing of Bill C-5, One Canadian Economy Act, will remove trade barriers, expedite nation-building projects, and unleash economic growth, with Indigenous partnership at the centre of this growth. It’s time to build big, build bold, and build now. As Canadians, we can give ourselves more than any foreign nation can ever take away,” said Carney, prime minister of Canada.
The legislation will build one strong Canadian economy by:
- Removing federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility, helping goods, services, workers, and businesses move freely across provinces and territories.
- Expediting nation-building projects that will connect and transform our country and unleash economic growth while ensuring environmental protections and Indigenous rights are upheld.
- Working with Indigenous Peoples through consultation and engagement to build shared prosperity.
Taken together, these measures will create and connect Canadians to good-paying careers and more prosperity. The Prime Minister shared an update on this work with the premiers of the provinces and territories during their meeting earlier today. The leaders agreed to stay in close contact as they reinforce Canada’s strength at home.
Indigenous partnership is a critical component of this legislation, and fulsome consultation will be pivotal to the success of future projects. The government of Canada is committed to respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and the rights set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
To this end, prime minister Carney will be meeting with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis over the coming weeks. Bill C-5 now moves to the senate for consideration and brings us one step closer to removing federal barriers to free trade by Canada Day.
“The adoption of Bill C-5 by the House of Commons is a crucial step in building one Canadian economy and getting big projects built faster. Thank you to colleagues who supported this legislation – you are helping build a stronger Canada,” said Dominic LeBlanc, president of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and minister responsible for Canada-US trade, intergovernmental affairs and one canadian economy.
