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C-5Royal assent received

Bill C-5 — Law to Boost Trade and Jobs Across Canada

Canada Trade and Jobs Act

Introduced Jun 6, 2025·Last discussed Jun 26, 2025
Summary

This new law, called the "Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act" and the "Building Canada Act", aims to make it easier for people, goods, and services to move freely between provinces and territories. It wants to remove barriers that stop trade and make it simpler for workers to get jobs across Canada. It also wants to speed up the approval of big projects that are seen as important for the country, like building new infrastructure or developing natural resources. This change will affect businesses that trade across provincial borders, workers who want to move to different provinces for jobs, and companies that are planning big projects. It matters because it could boost the Canadian economy by creating a more unified market. It could also lead to faster development of important projects, which could create jobs and improve infrastructure.

What MPs Are Saying
Liberal
Dominic LeBlancLiberalSupports

I introduced a bill to remove barriers to trade and labor mobility across Canada. I want to make it easier to build big projects, like pipelines and energy lines, by speeding up the approval process and working with provinces and Indigenous groups.

Conservative
Andrew ScheerConservativeOpposes

I want the Prime Minister to get rid of the oil and gas emissions cap right away. This cap hurts our energy sector, sends jobs to the United States, and stops new pipelines from being built in Canada.

Bloc Québécois
Sébastien LemireBloc QuébécoisOpposes

The government is rushing First Nations into giving up their rights. I don't think this is real consultation because not all groups were asked, and everyone does things differently. We need to slow down to truly respect First Nations.

Where This Lands on Key Issues

Where this proposed law falls on the policy spectrums that Canadians care about

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Bill Quality
Mixed

This proposed law aims to boost trade and labor mobility within Canada and speed up approval for projects deemed in the national interest. However, it leaves many specifics to later regulations and gives broad powers to the government, which could lead to unforeseen consequences.

Things to Watch For

  • The specific exceptions to free trade and labor mobility will be determined later in regulations.
  • The definition of 'national interest' projects is broad and could be applied to many different kinds of projects.
  • The law limits legal action against the government for decisions made in good faith, potentially reducing accountability.
  • The fast-tracking of projects could weaken environmental protections and Indigenous rights.
  • It is unclear how the government will balance economic benefits with environmental and social concerns when deciding which projects are in the national interest.
Progress

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