The
Economic Freedom
Network

Provincial Economic Freedom in Canada 1981-1998

by Faisal Arman, Dexter Samida, and Michael Walker

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III: Interprovincial Trade

III(a): Occupational Licensing

The extent to which labour mobility is hampered in each of the provinces is reflected in the number of occupations each of the provinces regulates. The higher the number of regulated occupations, the more labour mobility is restricted and, therefore, the lower the score obtained by a province.

Data Source: R.G. Evans and W.T. Stanbury, Occupational Regulation in Canada, a background study prepared for the Economic Council of Canada, Regulation Reference, 1980. Updated through to 1995/96 by Faisal Arman using provincial statute records.

Table III(a)-1:Number of Regulated Occupations

	BC	AB	SK	MB	ON	QC	NB	NS	PEI	NF
1980	44	48	44	44	39	52	43	44	34	36
1997	46	41	46	47	45	50	40	27	46	26

Table III(a)-2:Rating Criteria

Rating	Number of regulated occupations
10	1 - 11 (mostly within the medical professions)
8	12 - 23 (medical and other professionslawyers, engineers, accountants etc.)
6	24 - 35
4	36 - 47
2	48 - 59
0	>59

Table III(a)-3:Index Ratings for
Regulation of Occupations

	1980	1997
Alberta	2	4
British Columbia	4	4
Manitoba	4	4
New Brunswick	4	4
Newfoundland	4	6
Nova Scotia	4	6
Ontario	4	4
Prince Edward Island	6	4
Quebec	2	2
Saskatchewan	4	4

III(b): Marketing Boards (Agricultural)

This component of the index measures the share, in each province, of farm receipts under the supply management powers of marketing boards as a percentage of total farm receipts (Canadian Wheat Board payments are excluded from total farm receipts where relevant). The greater the share of farm receipts collected through supply management boards, the lower the score given.

Data Source: Farm Cash Receipts and Payments Summary Report, Agricultural Division, Statistics Canada, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, Catalogue No. 21-603 UPE.

Table III(b)-1:Percentage of Farm Receipts under Marketing Boards, by Province 1981–1996

	BC	AB	SK	MB	ON	QC	NB	NS	PEI	NF
1981	37.9	7.4	2.7	10.2	33.4	43.3	34.6	46.4	15.4	59.3
1985	35.9	9.0	2.9	9.7	30.9	42.8	40.6	47.0	18.4	70.3
1989	35.1	8.4	3.3	10.8	33.1	41.9	37.5	45.4	16.5	67.4
1993	35.0	8.1	3.2	9.1	33.4	40.9	36.4	47.4	19.1	70.6
1994	35.3	7.6	2.9	9.5	35.4	39.9	36.9	46.7	15.5	68.9
1995	35.8	7.3	2.8	9.5	33.2	40.2	36.3	47.6	16.3	71.3
1996	37.4	7.3	2.9	9.4	34.5	39.0	38.5	43.3	18.5	71.6

Table III(b)-2:Rating Criteria

Rating	Share of Farm Receipts under Marketing Boards
10	%< 2.8%
9	2.8% - 8.4%
8	8.5% - 14.1%
7	14.2% - 19.8%
6	19.9% - 25.5%
5	25.6% - 31.2%
4	31.3% - 36.9%
3	37.0% - 42.6%
2	42.7% - 48.3%
1	48.4% - 54.0%
0	% >54%

Table III(b)-3:Ratings for Marketing Boards

	1981	1985	1989	1993	1994	1995	1996
Alberta	9	8	9	9	9	9	9
British Columbia	3	4	4	4	4	4	3
Manitoba	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
New Brunswick	4	3	3	4	4	4	3
Newfoundland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nova Scotia	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Ontario	4	5	4	4	4	4	4
Prince Edward Island	7	7	7	7	7	7	7
Quebec	2	2	3	3	3	3	3
Saskatchewan	10	9	9	9	9	9	9

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