The Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce says federal recognition of the city’s cross-border food trade reforms is an important milestone, but more work is needed to extend the benefits to businesses outside municipal boundaries.
The issue was highlighted in the federal budget, which pointed to regulatory changes that now allow provincially regulated food businesses in Lloydminster to operate across the Alberta-Saskatchewan border without requiring federal licensing.
In a statement to MyLloydminsterNow, Teri-Lynn MacKie, executive director of the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce, said the federal acknowledgement reflects years of collaboration among local businesses, governments and community organizations.
“The federal budget’s recognition of Lloydminster’s cross-border food trade reform is significant,” says MacKie. “It acknowledges both the unique challenges of operating in Canada’s only bi-provincial city and the practical work undertaken by the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce, the City of Lloydminster, participating businesses, and government partners to remove an unnecessary barrier.”
The Chamber notes that since the Safe Food Pilot Project launched in January 2023, eligible provincially regulated food businesses have been able to serve customers throughout Lloydminster rather than being restricted by the provincial boundary. A permanent regulatory amendment approved in November 2024 made those changes long-term.
MacKie adds, the reforms have reduced administrative burdens and regulatory uncertainty while helping businesses reach more customers. She said the changes have also demonstrated that governments can maintain food safety standards while adapting regulations to fit the realities of a border community.
Remaining challenges
However, the Chamber says challenges remain for businesses located just outside Lloydminster.
“The current solution ends at Lloydminster’s municipal boundary, but our economy does not,” said Teri-Lynn MacKie.
She notes that food producers, processors, caterers, market gardens and other small businesses in the surrounding region still face federal interprovincial requirements when serving customers across the provincial border. The Chamber argues those restrictions limit market access, business growth, value-added food production and local supply-chain development.
Next steps
The organization is now advocating for Alberta, Saskatchewan, the federal government, the City of Lloydminster and regional municipalities to develop a broader solution for the immediate Lloydminster region. Possible options include a regional exemption, a border-zone pilot project or a streamlined compliance pathway based on the existing Lloydminster model.
MacKie says food trade is only one example of broader challenges created when regulations treat the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary as a dividing line despite the area’s integrated economy.
“We will continue identifying cross-border barriers and advocating for practical, coordinated solutions that reflect Lloydminster’s unique bi-provincial reality.”
