Could Breaking Interprovincial Trade Barriers Build More Affordable Homes in NL?

Building homes in Newfoundland and Labrador often feels like rowing upstream—material costs are high, trades are stretched thin. One major, under-the-radar culprit? Canada’s interprovincial trade barriers—rules that hinder the free movement of goods, services, and labor between provinces.

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), removing these barriers could add 30,000 housing starts per year nationwide, pushing annual starts to nearly 280,000—about 15% of the additional supply needed to close Canada’s housing gap. In simpler terms, this boost is equivalent to unlocking thousands of new homes across the country annually.

Here’s how NL could benefit:

• Less red tape bringing in cheaper building materials from other provinces.

• Easier access to skilled tradespeople without extra licensing hassle.

• Lower construction costs—potentially trimming $20–$40K per home by tapping broader supply and labour markets.

• Faster build times, especially in rural and outport regions where delays are common.

While not a cure-all, dismantling these trade walls is a practical step toward reducing costs, speeding up construction, and boosting housing affordability in Newfoundland and Labrador.

What Can You Do?If you believe homes should be more affordable in Newfoundland and Labrador, your voice matters. Here’s how you can help:

• Contact your MHA and MP – Ask them to support breaking down interprovincial trade barriers to lower housing costs.

• Talk about it – Share this blog and start the conversation with friends, builders, and local leaders.

• Support local builders and trade associations pushing for regulatory reform.

• Post on social media using hashtags like #BuildNLBetter and #TradeForHousing to raise awareness.

Small actions can create big change—especially when it comes to housing affordability.

Tonia, The Mortgage Missus Inc.

About the author,

Tonia Mercer is an independent mortgage broker. She has been in the industry for 17 years, in 2021 she launched her own brokerage The Mortgage Missus Inc. 

Tonia is passionate about financial education and believes that working with independent experts is the best way to get unbiased, professional advice. She has joined forces with local independent home and auto, financial advisor, legal, appraiser and real estate service providers. Effectively creating a concierge service for all things financial and real estate.

Tonia donates a portion of all mortgage revenue to Mercer's Mission, a street dog and cat feeding mission in the Dominican Republic. https://www.facebook.com/mercersmission