As calls grow for removing Canada’s interprovincial trade barriers to help counter the effects of a potential trade war with the United States, some experts say Manitoba is among the provinces that stand to gain the most from any regulatory cuts.

That idea was borne out by a recent index from the Montreal Economic Institute, which in 2021 suggested that if those barriers had been completely eliminated in 2020, Manitoba’s gross domestic product per capita would be nearly $5,000 higher in 2030 compared to a status quo scenario. Only Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador would have seen greater gains, the institute said, with GDP boosts of $10,000 and $9,000, respectively.

The idea of reducing barriers to trade between the provinces and territories isn’t new, but has gained renewed attention in recent weeks, with federal Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand saying this week those barriers could all crumble within a month.