Alberta’s recently introduced Bill 21, the Interprovincial Trade Mutual Recognition Act, intends to establish the legal framework to implement the Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement on the Sale of Goods, which comes into effect on June 30.
In November 2025, Canada’s provinces and territories signed the agreement, which seeks to reduce internal trade barriers, promote interprovincial trade, simplify the country’s regulatory system, and make it more efficient.
“Removing Canada’s internal trade barriers has clear economic benefits, particularly reducing barriers for business and costs for consumers,” said Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, in a news release from the provincial government.
“Removing unnecessary trade barriers will make life more affordable for Albertans and make it easier for Alberta businesses to grow and compete across Canada,” added Joseph Schow, Alberta’s minister of jobs, economy, trade, and immigration.
Bill 21’s goals
The Alberta government shared that the proposed legislation aims to:
- Respond to uncertainty relating to global trade and tariffs
- Reduce red tape and decrease costs for businesses
- Enhance access to needed goods and services
- Limit reliance on volatile cross-border markets
- Fortify domestic supply chains
- Help the province easily implement future mutual recognition and trade agreements for goods and services
“We're proud to support this step forward and excited about what it means for businesses across the province and ultimately across Canada,” said Heather Thomson, vice president of economy at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, in Alberta’s news release.
“We appreciate Alberta's work to advance Mutual Recognition legislation and support the progress we're seeing on internal trade across Canada,” the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) stated in a media release.
CFIB referred to a 2025 survey, in which almost seven in 10 small businesses in Alberta believed that governments should take swifter steps to boost interprovincial trade.
“We encourage the Government of Alberta to continue work to collaborate with other provinces to expand on the Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement (CMRA) on the sale of goods to include alcohol and food,” CFIB stated in its media release.
New council
The Alberta government also recently announced the new Premier’s Investment Council (PIC). Through this council, the leaders of the provincial government ministries responsible for investment attraction, economic development, and resource sector growth can coordinate with representatives from seven provincial agencies.
“This council brings the right people to one table to move faster, cut through barriers and land the kind of investment that creates jobs and grows our economy,” said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in the news release.
The provincial government shared that the new council intends to align government and agency efforts and enable its members to share strategic advice and market intelligence in an effort to drive large investment projects, hasten their execution, and focus on impactful opportunities.