Ontario and Manitoba have signed a new deal aimed at tearing down trade barriers and boosting economic cooperation between the provinces.
Premier Doug Ford and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on May 14, 2025, pledging to work together to increase the flow of goods, services, investments, and workers across their borders.
“Today’s MOU is just the latest step we are taking to unlock the enormous potential of true free trade within Canada,” said Ford. “This will lower costs for families and add up to $200 billion to our national GDP.”
The MOU includes plans for increased interprovincial labour mobility and direct-to-consumer alcohol sales. In 2021, trade between the two provinces totalled $19.5 billion.
Kinew said the deal comes at a critical time.
“We’re facing a tariff war on two fronts and now is the time to build up this country we love so much,” he said. “Through this agreement, we’ll unlock more opportunities for people in both provinces.”
The MOU follows similar agreements Ontario recently signed with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. It also supports Ontario’s new Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, aimed at creating a more open and unified internal economy.
Ontario also announced a $50 million Ontario Together Trade Fund to help local businesses take advantage of new opportunities.
Ontario is Canada’s largest player in interprovincial trade, with $326.6 billion in two-way trade in 2023.
The provinces say the agreement will help protect workers and businesses and strengthen Canada’s overall economic resilience.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
