Small business owners endorse strong ties among Atlantic provinces

Ninety-six per cent of smalland medium-size businesses in Atlantic Canada support provincial governments working together on finding solutions and cost savings, a survey found.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released the survey findings recently.

The report identifies rising business costs, a heavy tax burden and the shortage of quali- fied labour as the greatest challenges facing businesses in the region.

With a shrinking and aging population, the Atlantic provinces are finding it increasingly difficult to generate sufficient revenue and to keep spending under control.

“Momentum is building around cooperation but governments have to put their shoulder to the wheel now to break down barriers, share resources and communicate information to reduce spending, lower taxes, cut red tape and improve the efficiency of government service delivery,” said Jordi Morgan, vice-president Atlantic for CFIB.

Small business owners see cooperation on big-ticket items such as health care and education as vital, but they also point to more work being necessary among the Atlantic provinces on economic development and trade.

If the Atlantic provinces are going to realize regional regulatory alignment and government co-operation, they need to have their ultimate goals clearly specified with a timeline and new governance structures and processes to achieve those goals, according to a new report released by the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council.

Those three components — clearer goals, timelines, and processes and structures, are part

Somru BioScience of P.E.I. was one of 25 biotechnology companies and research organizations from Atlantic Canada that attended the recent 2018 BIO International Convention and Trade Show in Boston.

The annual event brings together biotechnology industry leaders, researchers, and representatives from biotechnology and life science organizations from around the world.

Canadians make up the largest international presence.

This was the first BIO Convention for P.E.I.-based of APEC’s proposal in the report, “Moving Forward: Need for an Atlantic Regulatory and Cooperation Agreement.”

A press release on Tuesday says that the ARC agreement is “designed to solidify an ambitious commitment to both regulatory reform to reduce unnecessary barriers to economic activity, and facility greater cooperation by government to reduce unnecessary duplication.

The agreement aims to specify ultimate goals and a timeline for achieving them through a TenYear Somru BioScience Inc., an emerging biotechnology company dedicated to developing breakthrough antibody technology and immunoassay solutions to accelerate biologic and biosimilar drug development applications.

“The BIO International Convention Roadmap and an annual work plan with an Annual Priorities Report.

APEC says better regulatory alignment will mostly benefit small businesses and their ability to expand in other provinces.

In 2015, the Atlantic Premiers established a Joint Regulatory and Service Effectiveness Office to reduce red tape caused by “unnecessary regulatory differences between provinces.”

APEC is also proposing to restructure that Joint Office in order to “create a fully functioning is one of the best networking and partnering conferences for biotechnology companies,” said Mohammed Moin, vice-president of strategic partnership and business development at Somru BioScience Inc.

“It allowed us to engage with some of the best biotech companies from around the world.”

The Atlantic Canadian mission was co-ordinated by the P.E.I. BioAlliance under the umbrella of the Atlantic Canada Bio-Industries Alliance.

“Having a co-ordinated presence regional organization with sufficient financial and staff resources to undertake its work.”

In terms of new governance structures and processes, APEC is proposing a new “high-level” Atlantic Regulatory Committee “to ensure progress is being made on fulfilling the commitments of the four Premiers.”

APEC also recommends that the restructured Joint Office be funded from existing provincial budgets.

Twitter.com/PEIGuardian at this world-stage event for biotechnology is essential to showcase our regional assets and provide companies and research organizations the opportunity to meet key international industry contacts,” said Rory Francis, executive director of the P.E.I. BioAlliance.

Funding support for the mission was provided by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the four Atlantic provincial governments through the Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy (ATIGS).