Fixing Canada's Internal Struggles Key to Economic Growth

Canada's economic woes are largely self-inflicted, according to former Reform Party leader Preston Manning. The country is struggling to attract investment and create jobs due to internal trade barriers, regulatory uncertainty, and federal-provincial battles.

The recent trade dispute with the US has highlighted these issues, but they pre-date the current tensions. Ottawa's One Canadian Economy Act aims to remove federal barriers to interprovincial trade, but more needs to be done.

Manning suggests that Ottawa should pull back from areas assigned to provinces in the Constitution and let them handle their responsibilities. In return, provinces should remove barriers to interprovincial trade where Ottawa has a constitutional role.

This could lead to less federal-provincial fighting, fewer barriers to investment, and ultimately a stronger Canadian economy. However, this will require Canadians to understand the choices and trade-offs involved, as well as giving people the facts and competing arguments.