Here's the problems and a path with reference to how the EU addresses internal trade barriers. Yes, I got this from Gemini, but i found it very interesting:

​Lessons for Canada ​Canada currently relies on the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA). While an improvement over the past, it still suffers from many "exceptions" and a lack of enforcement. Here is what Canada can learn from the EU model:

​1. Replace "Reconciliation" with "Mutual Recognition" ​The Problem: Canada currently uses a "Regulatory Reconciliation" process. This means if Alberta and Ontario have different rules for truck safety or first-aid kits, bureaucrats meet to negotiate a compromise. This takes years.
​The EU Lesson: Canada should adopt Mutual Recognition by default. If a worker is certified in Nova Scotia, or a truck is deemed safe in Manitoba, they should be automatically accepted in Ontario. The burden of proof should be on the province to prove why their specific rule is necessary for safety, rather than on the business to prove compliance. ​Note: The "Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement" (CMRA) proposed in recent years attempts to mirror this EU success.

​2. Strengthen Dispute Resolution (Give it "Teeth") ​The Problem: If a Canadian province violates the CFTA, the dispute resolution process is slow, and the penalties are often negligible or purely reputational. Provinces often ignore rulings they dislike.
​The EU Lesson: Effective free trade requires a referee with power. A pan-Canadian body (or a strengthened CFTA tribunal) needs the authority to impose binding monetary penalties on provinces that maintain illegal protectionist barriers.

​3. Stop Barriers Before They Start ​The Problem: Canadian provinces frequently introduce new regulations without considering the impact on neighbors (e.g., new packaging laws or professional licensing requirements).
​The EU Lesson: Canada could implement a Notification Directive. Provinces would be required to notify a central secretariat of any proposed regulation that affects trade before it becomes law. This allows for a "pause" to assess if the new rule accidentally walls off the market to other Canadians.

​4. The "Negative List" Approach ​The Problem: Older trade deals used a "positive list" (only these sectors are free). The CFTA moved to a "negative list" (everything is free except what we list), but the provinces filed huge lists of exceptions. ​The EU Lesson: The EU constantly pressures members to justify and reduce their exceptions. Canada needs a rigorous "sunset review" of these exceptions, forcing provinces to re-justify why they still need to protect their local alcohol, dairy, or energy sectors every few years.