A new report says nearly two-thirds of Canadian businesses want the government to reduce barriers to internal trade in an effort to improve productivity.
A poll by KPMG in Canada of 250 business leaders found 64% of respondents say removing interprovincial trade barriers and harmonizing regulations and credentials is a top priority.
The online survey, conducted between May 9 and May 20, also found 82% of business leaders believe eliminating interprovincial trade barriers will improve their company’s efficiency and productivity.
Other top priorities identified by business leaders in the survey included a comprehensive tax review to improve competitiveness (58%) and streamlining processes to expedite resource and major infrastructure projects (56%).
The poll comes ahead of the speech from the throne on Tuesday, which is expected to lay out the new Liberal government’s priorities. Prime Minister Mark Carney was elected last month on promises to improve Canada’s economic resilience and launch nation-building projects in the face of U.S. tariffs.
The KPMG report says 76% of those surveyed are bracing for the worst and taking steps to prepare for a Canadian recession, given the ongoing trade uncertainty.