Ottawa, February 4, 2011-Today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama unveiled a new vision for the Canada-U.S. border and a new direction for the bilateral trading relationship. The announcement is applauded as a step in the right direction by the business community on both sides of the border.

At a time when the global economy is undergoing significant shifts, it is imperative that both countries recognize the advantages of the integrated North American market by reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers and improving the efficiency of the border. Canada needs to develop a dedicated strategy for engagement in the U.S. that focuses on highlighting the gains from the bilateral arrangement and promoting free trade. It is for this reason that the Canadian Chamber of Commerce welcome’s the creation of the United States-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC). This council, which will comprise senior regulatory, trade, and foreign affairs officials from both sides of the border will be tasked with created jobs and stimulating economic growth though increased regulatory coordination.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Perrin Beatty, welcomed today’s announcement as a positive step in the right direction: “We have to give full marks to the two leaders for making such an ambitious gesture. The challenge now is to turn the vision into reality. Since 9/11, there have been dramatic increases in security measures at the border-costly measures that have resulted in greater numbers of fees and inspections for those who use the border the most. When coupled with growing layers of regulations, increasing regulatory complexity, infrastructure constraints and uncertain wait times it is not surprising that the business community has been calling for a more trade-friendly border.

Ottawa, January 26, 2011-Following through on the business tax reduction agenda is critical to moving from government-and Canadian taxpayer-funded-stimulus to a private sector-led recovery, Canadian Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Perrin Beatty, told his membership today.

In a message to the 420 local chambers of commerce and boards of trade, representing 192,000 businesses of all sizes across Canada, Mr. Beatty said improving the business climate to trigger private sector investment is the most significant economic issue now confronting Canada.

Ottawa, January 19, 2011-A report released today by the Canadian Intellectual Property Council (CIPC) concludes that Canada must improve and strengthen its intellectual property regime to close the gap with other leading industrialized countries to attract research and investment in the pharmaceutical sector. The CIPC is an organization of businesses under the banner of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce focused on improving and protecting intellectual property rights in Canada.

The report entitled, Innovation for a Better Tomorrow: Closing Canada’s Intellectual Property Gap in the Pharmaceutical Sector recommends that Canada make improvements in three crucial areas to attract jobs and spark growth in life sciences. These include:

• levelling the playing field between innovative pharmaceutical companies and generics,
• providing internationally competitive protection for the data produced by innovators, and 
• protecting their discoveries from regulatory and other delays in the approval process.

Ottawa, January 19, 2011-Elyse Allan, President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Canada, announced the launch of an initiative to gain greater insight into shaping the growth of Canada’s remote community economies and the decisions being made by global and national businesses to invest in these communities.

Joined by Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Allan posed the question “What is the enabling infrastructure that will engage Canada’s remote communities in the 21st century economy?” to dozens of business leaders in Ottawa.

Read the news release.