Canadian Council of Chief Executives :: Maximizing Economic Efficiencies

North American Security and Prosperity

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Maximizing Economic Efficiencies

Maximizing Economic Efficiencies

Many of our regulatory systems fail to recognize the degree of economic integration between Canada and the United States. Our two countries often share the same regulatory goals, yet maintain rules that differ enough in detail to require costly, time consuming and unnecessary administration at the border.

Making our regulatory systems more compatible, through means such as mutual recognition or harmonization, could lead to real savings for both businesses and governments, and enable the latter to focus their border resources on improving security instead.

With respect to standards, inspection and certification procedures, our two countries should be able to apply a principle of "tested once" for purposes of the Canada-United States market. Examples of such areas are the consumer and industrial goods sector, food safety and pharmaceuticals.
To this end, we should establish shared technical groups that would examine our regulatory frameworks, sector by sector, and provide advice to governments in both countries on where differences could be bridged through mutual recognition or other forms of harmonization.
As part of this effort, three issues of significant sensitivity must be addressed: the use of trade remedies within a de facto integrated market; regulatory restrictions on access and ownership in major industries; and impediments to the mobility of skilled labour.
Our countries should examine regulations in key industries such as transportation, telecommunications, financial services and oil, gas and electricity to reduce or eliminate unnecessary divergences - in some cases through harmonization and in others through mutual recognition agreements.
In the move towards greater compatibility, critical infrastructure vital to both countries should receive priority attention, in particular telecommunications and computer networks, pipeline capacity and electricity transmission, and road, rail and air linkages. Canada and the United States should take steps to achieve true "open skies" with respect to air travel.
Both countries should cooperate in achieving the highest levels of environmental protection with an emphasis on clean air, water, the safe handling of toxics and hazardous waste. As a general principle, regulatory standards should converge toward the highest of current standards.


Click for further information:	Home >> North American Security and Prosperity >> Maximizing Economic Efficiencies Maximizing Economic Efficiencies Many of our regulatory systems fail to recognize the degree of economic integration between Canada and the United States. Our two countries often share the same regulatory goals, yet maintain rules that differ enough in detail to require costly, time consuming and unnecessary administration at the border. Making our regulatory systems more compatible, through means such as mutual recognition or harmonization, could lead to real savings for both businesses and governments, and enable the latter to focus their border resources on improving security instead. With respect to standards, inspection and certification procedures, our two countries should be able to apply a principle of "tested once" for purposes of the Canada-United States market. Examples of such areas are the consumer and industrial goods sector, food safety and pharmaceuticals. To this end, we should establish shared technical groups that would examine our regulatory frameworks, sector by sector, and provide advice to governments in both countries on where differences could be bridged through mutual recognition or other forms of harmonization. As part of this effort, three issues of significant sensitivity must be addressed: the use of trade remedies within a de facto integrated market; regulatory restrictions on access and ownership in major industries; and impediments to the mobility of skilled labour. Our countries should examine regulations in key industries such as transportation, telecommunications, financial services and oil, gas and electricity to reduce or eliminate unnecessary divergences - in some cases through harmonization and in others through mutual recognition agreements. In the move towards greater compatibility, critical infrastructure vital to both countries should receive priority attention, in particular telecommunications and computer networks, pipeline capacity and electricity transmission, and road, rail and air linkages. Canada and the United States should take steps to achieve true "open skies" with respect to air travel. Both countries should cooperate in achieving the highest levels of environmental protection with an emphasis on clean air, water, the safe handling of toxics and hazardous waste. As a general principle, regulatory standards should converge toward the highest of current standards.
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