Part of Canada’s strategy for dealing with Donald Trump’s tariffs is expanding our trade options. That should include reducing two kinds of internal trade barriers: legal obstacles and transportation costs.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has suggested using the federal spending power as a lever to secure increased internal trade. However, the Tories should be wary of expanding the use of the federal treasury to pressure provinces into complying with federal policy objectives. Canada needs more balanced federalism, not more central overreach.