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“Wouldn’t it be great if that could go across the country?” Ford said. 

Beyond that, the deal includes provisions to recognize the professional credentials and certifications of workers from across the provincial boundary, making it easier for Ontarians to work in Manitoba and vice-versa.

“We’re willing to knock down these barriers,” the Kenora-born Kinew said at a news conference with Ford, who last month signed similar deals with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as provinces try to open up an estimated $200 billion of business held back by interprovincial trade barriers.

Ford told reporters he’s now looking for deals with other premiers. 

“We’re moving fairly quick, so before July 1 hopefully we get all the territories and provinces on board. And it’d be a shame if they weren’t, because they’re going to miss the train, and it’s not going to benefit their communities,” the Ontario premierÌý²¹»å»å±ð»å.

“I’m looking forward to working with Premier Kinew and all my fellow premiers to unlock free trade within Canada so we can build a stronger, more resilient economy that can stand up to tariffs and anything else that may come our way.”

On direct-to-consumer alcohol sales, for example, Ontarians would be able to order beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages online from Manitoba producers without having to purchase them at LCBO stores — if they are even sold there.

“We know that our country has been threatened, and it’s been inspiring to see Canadians respond to these risks presented to our economy by saying … we want to take advantage of this opportunity to build Canada up even stronger, to have even more jobs,” said Kinew. 

His province — which has a nascent wine industry in the southern Pembina Valley growing “cold climate grapes” for dry wines versus the “cool climate” varietals in Ontario and British Columbia — has been a leader in breaking down internal trade barriers, and already allows residents to order directly from wineries and beverage alcohol producers in other provinces. 

Kinew, a New Democrat, called the move to accept professional credentials from workers in Ontario a common-sense matter of “trust” and a way to boost economic output.

About 35 per cent of Canada’s trade occurs within its own borders. The Ontario government estimates that erasing internal barriers could boost the country’s gross domestic product by as much as 7.9 per cent over the long term.

Ontario’s top exports to Manitoba are household goods, food and beverages while Manitoba’s top shipments to Ontario are canola oil products from the province’s vast prairie and conventional crude oil. 

As part of Ford’s effort to break down internal trade barriers — a problem that generated more talk than action for decades until Trump’s tariffs hit — his Progressive Conservative government introduced legislation in April called the “Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act.”

The bill would remove Ontario’s 23 remaining exceptions under the Canada Free Trade Agreement, such as allowing a frozen pizza made in Nova Scotia to be “automatically recognized as very safe to buy here in Ontario.”

Ford’s push for free trade encourages other provinces to introduce similar legislation, something Nova Scotia has done under Premier Tim Houston.