Ontario, British Columbia, and Canada’s three territories have signed new agreements aimed at strengthening internal trade, improving labour mobility, and reducing barriers to business activity across regions.
The announcement came Monday during the 2025 summer meeting of Canada’s premiers at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario, where premiers gathered to discuss trade, U.S. tariff threats, and other national issues.
Premier Doug Ford announced the signing of two separate memorandums of understanding: one between Ontario and British Columbia, and the other between Ontario and the territories of Nunavut, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. Ford said the agreements are part of broader efforts to unlock an estimated $200 billion in untapped economic potential across Canada.
According to a joint statement from the premiers, the agreements aim to eliminate red tape, lower business costs, and create more seamless pathways for skilled workers to move and work across provincial and territorial borders.
These new partnerships mean Ontario now has signed trade-related agreements with every province and territory in Canada.
Yukon Premier Mike Pemberton emphasized that the deal would allow the territories to contribute more significantly to the national economy, while B.C. Premier David Eby highlighted the impact of the Ontario-B.C. partnership. “Between our provinces, we have more than half of the population of the country. This agreement is key to unlocking one Canadian economy,” Eby stated.
The agreements mark a step forward in the collective effort by Canadian provinces and territories to strengthen internal economic ties and respond to growing global trade pressures.