House of Commons Passes Bill C-5: ‘One Canadian Economy Act’ to Tear Down Trade Barriers and Speed Up Nation-Building Projects

With Indigenous partnerships at the core, new legislation aims to unify Canada’s internal economy and accelerate major projects from coast to coast

Ottawa, ON — The House of Commons has passed Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act, marking a pivotal moment for the Carney government’s bold agenda to unify Canada’s internal economy and fast-track nation-building projects. The legislation aims to eliminate federal barriers to interprovincial trade and labour mobility, while also prioritizing Indigenous partnership, environmental protections, and economic growth.

Prime Minister Mark Carney welcomed the bill’s passage as a foundational step toward a more cohesive, economically integrated Canada. “It’s time to build big, build bold, and build now,” said Carney. “As Canadians, we can give ourselves more than any foreign nation can ever take away.”

The new legislation proposes three main pillars:

• Eliminating internal trade and labour barriers to allow goods, services, and skilled workers to move more freely across provinces and territories.

• Expediting infrastructure and clean energy projects, unlocking new corridors of economic activity and connecting regions more efficiently.

• Embedding Indigenous partnerships at the centre of development through consultation and engagement, reinforcing Canada’s commitment to rights enshrined under Section 35 of the Constitution and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

As the bill heads to the Senate, it sets a target for final approval by Canada Day, which the government says would symbolize a new era of national unity and economic potential.

Minister Dominic LeBlanc, responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs, underscored the bill’s urgency: “You are helping build a stronger Canada.”
Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland emphasized a long-term goal of “one single economy – from coast to coast to coast.”
Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, called the act a “shift from delay to delivery,” tying the new economy to Canada’s role as an energy superpower.
Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services, affirmed the government’s intention to embed Indigenous voices in every step of the development process, stating, “Indigenous Peoples’ voices are at the table where decisions are made.”

Carney is expected to meet with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis leaders over the coming weeks to support this legislative milestone with direct partnership.

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