TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Life Sciences Ontario has joined 18 other organizations across Canada to call on the federal government to work with them to create a better environment for the development and commercialization of new vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Canada.
In an advertising and social media campaign launched today, life sciences industry associations, researchers and top national and regional business organizations are asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government to work together to create a world-class life sciences sector which will enhance Canada’s resilience in the face of future health challenges and ultimately help ensure our health and economic security.
“We are asking for a constructive dialogue to create the positive environment needed so Canada can build on its already strong life sciences industry and be ready to respond to future health emergencies as we have had to do with COVID-19 over the past year,” said Dr. Jason Field, President and CEO of Life Sciences Ontario, which helped organize the new initiative.
In full-page ads in newspapers in both English and French and social media posts launched today, 19 heads of different life sciences, research and business organizations signed an open letter to the Prime Minister saying, “Canada should be on the frontlines of developing and manufacturing new vaccines, therapies and other technologies” so Canadians can always enjoy their important everyday moments of meeting and gathering with friends and families. “Prime Minister, we can work with you to build a world-class life sciences sector to make this happen.”
The letter calls for the development of a coherent life sciences strategy in Canada, including more collaboration to solve the pandemic today and future health challenges as well as to create less uncertain and complex regulations that are blocking Canadian companies’ ability to “move at the speed of science.”
“Now, more than ever,” the letter states, “we need public and private sector leaders to continue to work together to address these issues and other serious challenges.”
Signatories to the letter – which could grow in number in the coming weeks – include the following leading organizations:
BioAlberta
BioNB
BioNova
BioQuébec
Bioscience Association Manitoba
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Health Research Forum
Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal
Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec
Innovative Medicines Canada
LifeSciences BC
Life Sciences Ontario
Medtech Canada
Mississauga Board of Trade
Montréal InVivo
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
Prince Edward Island BioAlliance
Québec International
The Canadian Forum for Rare Disease Innovators (RAREi)
About Life Sciences Ontario
Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) is a not-for-profit organization that represents and promotes Ontario’s vibrant and diverse life sciences sector. Members of LSO include life sciences companies, entrepreneurs, members of academia, and service providers from many different areas of the life sciences ecosystem, including biopharmaceuticals, agriculture, agri-food, the bioeconomy, medical devices, animal health, environmental technologies, and more. Ultimately, LSO’s mission is to encourage commercial success throughout this diverse sector by collaborating with governments, academia, industry and other life sciences organizations in Ontario and across Canada. lifesciencesontario.ca
