We are owners of two small businesses that proudly employ 15 dedicated individuals as professional teachers. Today, we find ourselves caught in the swirling currents of an unpredictable economic climate, exacerbated by inflation and detrimental public policies. Worryingly, the towering specter of Trump's escalating tariffs looms large, threatening a severe economic downturn that could render our hard-won enterprises unsustainable.

We see Trump's tariff threats not as an insoluble obstacle, but rather as a unique opportunity - an impetus for us to act decisively to overcome vested interests and knock down the walls of inter-provincial trade barriers that keep us poorer and more heavily dependent on the US.

Canada is an economic confederation, but numerous trade obstructions among provinces often hinder its prosperity. According to an analysis by Statistics Canada, such internal trade barriers cost the Canadian economy up to $130 billion a year (Source: Statistics Canada). In an era of fierce global competition, we cannot afford such self-inflicted wounds.

We therefore call upon all provincial governments to immediately convene and agree to set a short-term expiry date on all inter-provincial trade barriers (including barriers to mutual recognition of standards and regulations). There are costs to removing barriers and some may make sense to retain. However, any barriers that survive the expiry date would need to be newly legislated and agreed upon amongst provinces.

Please sign this petition and let's make a concerted push for a more fluid and prosperous economic landscape across all Canadian provinces.