BILL NO. 36
(as passed, with amendments)
1st Session, 65th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
3 Charles III, 2025
Government Bill
Free Trade and Mobility within Canada Act
CHAPTER 7 OF THE ACTS OF 2025
The Honourable Tim Houston
Premier
First Reading: February 25, 2025 (LINK TO BILL AS INTRODUCED)
Second Reading: March 5, 2025
Third Reading: March 24, 2025 (WITH COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS)
Royal Assent: March 26, 2025
An Act Respecting
Free Trade and Mobility within Canada
Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 This Act may be cited as the Free Trade and Mobility within Canada Act.
2 The purpose of this Act is to remove all barriers to trade in goods, services and investment between the Province and other jurisdictions within Canada.
3 (1) In the event of a conflict between this Act or the regulations and any other enactment, this Act and the regulations prevail.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), this Act does not apply to a person seeking to practise in, or a licensing authority of, a regulated health profession as defined in the Patient Access to Care Act.
4 (1) In this Section, "reciprocating jurisdiction" means a signatory to the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, other than the Province, that, as determined by the Governor in Council, has in force legislation similar to and corresponding with this Act or that has taken other satisfactory steps.
(2) The Province will not apply any party-specific exceptions as outlined in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement with respect to a reciprocating jurisdiction.
(3) All goods manufactured, produced or approved for use in a reciprocating jurisdiction that have met the requisite standards and approvals of that jurisdiction shall be treated as if those goods were manufactured, produced or approved for use in the Province and shall not be subject to any additional fees or testing by the Province due to the goods having been manufactured, produced or approved for use in another jurisdiction.
(4) Subject to subsection (5), where a person is required under an Act or regulation of the Province to obtain a licence or certification from a regulatory body of the Province, the person is entitled to be issued such licence or certification if the person holds an equivalent licence or certification issued by a regulatory body of a reciprocating jurisdiction and is good standing with that regulatory body.
(5) A regulatory body shall, before issuing a licence or certification to a person entitled under subsection (4) to receive the licence or certification, require the person to provide evidence that
(a) the person is in good standing with the relevant regulatory body of the reciprocating jurisdiction and that there are no outstanding complaints against the person in the reciprocating jurisdiction; and
(b) the person holds professional liability insurance satisfactory to the regulatory body.
(6) Where a person entitled under subsection (4) to receive a licence or certification applies to a regulatory body of the Province for the licence or certification and provides the evidence required by subsection (5), the regulatory body shall issue the licence or certification to that person within 10 business days.
5 (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations
(a) respecting the evidence that a regulatory body may require under subsection 4(5);
(b) defining any term used but not defined in this Act;
(c) respecting any matter or thing the Governor in Council considers necessary or advisable to carry out the intent or purpose of this Act.
(2) The exercise by the Governor in Council of the authority contained in subsection (1) is a regulation within the meaning of the Regulations Act.
6 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no cause of action and no legal proceeding lies or may be brought or continued against the Province or another person to enforce or determine a right or obligation that is claimed or arises solely under or by virtue of this Act.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a proceeding that is provided for under Chapter 10 of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2025 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created March 26, 2025. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
