A New Era for Interprovincial Trade: Strengthening Canada’s Fragmented Market with Dr. Trevor Tombe

Note: The lecture time and location will be announced in early January. 

Lecture Abstract 

Canada is one of the world’s most open trading nations, yet it is often easier for provinces to trade abroad than with one another. With rising uncertainty in Canada–U.S. relations and a major CUSMA review on the horizon, strengthening interprovincial trade has become increasingly important for economic resilience and long-term growth. This lecture offers a fresh look at internal trade barriers—why they persist, how significant they are, and which ones matter most. Drawing on new evidence about how industries across Canada are linked, it shows how reducing internal barriers—especially in the most interconnected sectors—can strengthen growth and prosperity nationwide. Provinces are already experimenting with new agreements, mutual recognition, and targeted reforms. Combined with external pressures, these developments point to a new opportunity to build a more integrated and productive Canadian economy.

About Dr. Trevor Tombe

Trevor Tombe is a Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary and Director of Fiscal and Economic Policy at The School of Public Policy. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and the MEI, a Fellow at the Public Policy Forum, and co-director of Finances of the Nation. His research spans a wide range of topics in economics, including international and interprovincial trade, fiscal federalism, and public finance. He has published in leading academic journals and is co-author of the textbooks Public Finance in Canada and Macroeconomics. Beyond his academic work, Trevor regularly advises governments on economic and fiscal issues. He previously served on the Government of Canada’s Working Group on Productivity in the Public Sector, its Advisory Council on Interprovincial Trade, the Bank of Canada’s external review panel of its pandemic response, and the provincial AlbertaNext Panel. He holds a PhD and MA in Economics from the University of Toronto and a BBA in Finance from Simon Fraser University. He also contributes to public policy conversations through frequent op-eds, articles, and media appearances.
 

Community Speaker Series

At Trent University, we believe in the power of lifelong learning and professional development for our alumni, staff, faculty, students, and community members. Each year, Trent offers public lectures featuring visiting distinguished visiting scholars and experts, sharing ideas and knowledge on subjects such as the Environment, Business and Public Policy, Philosophy, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Thanks to generous philanthropic support, these talks are free and open to both the Trent community and the public. 

If you have questions about this event, please contact communityspeakerseries@trentu.ca.