Consultations

BIOTECanada Offers Policy Recommendations for the 2024 Federal Budget

BIOTECanada recently responded to the Finance Committee of the House of Commons call for input on the federal budget 2024 consultations.  The recommendations include key elements dedicated to growing the value and potential of the entire life sciences ecosystem throughout Canada.  Many thanks to the members of the association who offered their expertise to the policy committees and Board of Directors to help identify the recommendations submitted. Read the full submission here.

Pre-Budget Consultation in Advance of the Federal Budget 2023

In October 2022, BIOTECanada submitted feedback to Standing Committee on Finance for the 2023 Federal budget that included recommendations on supporting the Canadian biotech ecosystem. This is a point in time for Canada to capitalize on the momentum established, measure how we are growing and set the next terms for future success. Canada needs to seize the opportunity to bring the best of Canadian innovation to the world, capture the best talent at home and from abroad, grow the ecosystem, and scale-up companies. In this context, Budget 2023 represents an important and timely opportunity to invest in the biotech and biomanufacturing sector’s competitiveness. Read the full submission here.

Designing the Renewed Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative

On April 8, 2022, BIOTECanada provided feedback on behalf of the biotechnology industry in Canada, as the national trade association representing more than 230 member companies and organizations in Canada’s health, life sciences, industrial, agricultural and environmental biotechnology sectors. BIOTECanada members are reflective of the broad and diverse Canadian biotech ecosystem which stretches across the country and includes: world-class universities and research institutes; SME’s; entrepreneurs; investors; regional incubators and technology accelerators; and, large multinational players all of which are powered by a highly skilled and educated workforce. The BIOTECanada recommendations are intended to maximize the impact of the life sciences sector in Canada. Accordingly, our submission directly responds to the questions asked as well as providing macro-level comments regarding the VCCI. Read the full submission here.

Submission to the Minister of Finance on Federal Budget 2022

February 23, 2022, As the government works to set budget priorities for the 2022 federal budget, the members of BIOTECanada appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the discussions and assessment the Minister of Finance is conducting in this pre-budget timeframe. The biotechnology industry in Canada has established world-leading capacity in addressing some of the most pressing problems the government seeks to solve. From climate change challenges, to growing food in more plentiful and sustainable manners, meeting the healthcare needs of a growing and aging population, and driving economic growth as we continue to recover from the global pandemic, the biotechnology industry continuously enriches the lives all Canadians. Read the full submission here.

Biomanufacturing Strategy Submission

In March 2021, BIOTECanada submitted targeted recommendations to the federal government in the context of the government’s biomanufacturing consultation. The entire life sciences ecosystem must be the foundation for determining the success of this public policy commitment. From academic research to small start-up companies to multinational commercial interests, a continuum of capacity building is the essence of how success for this initiative will be realized. The challenge for Canada is to build a sustainable system to respond to current and future health emergencies. Read the full submission here.

Submission to Federal Budget Consultations

In August 2020, BIOTECanada submitted a recommendation to the Federal government to invest $500 million to establish the Life Sciences Capital Catalyst Initiative (LS-VCCI)a life sciences venture envelope with the critical capital necessary and incentives to attract private capital (from Canadian institutional investors Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), OMERS etc. as well as international sources) in order to grow the availability of capital to domestic life science venture funds, top performing later stage companies, as well as key seed stage initiatives.

To maximize the return to government on its investment, the proposed “Life Sciences VCCI” would have three (3) major functions, namely:

  • Finance seed and early stage funding vehicles:  These vehicles will support company creation and early stage growth of innovations/companies emerging from Canada’s leading academic institutions;
  • Grow Canadian venture capital fund capacity: Strengthen and grow the Canadian venture capital investment pool by facilitating the collaboration of Canadian venture capital firms and attract investment from larger domestic investors and investors from outside Canada; and,
  • Create Canadian-based anchor companies: Provide later stage companies (private or public) access to investment capital to support their ability to grow in Canada and ultimately mature into domestic anchor companies.

Read BIOTECanada’s full submission here.

Feedback to PMPRB draft guidelines

In August, 2020 BIOTECanada and the Vaccine Industry Committee submitted industry responses to the PMPRB June 2020 revised draft Guidelines draft consultation. This follows the publication of new regulations on August 21, 2019 amending the patented medicines regulations and first set of draft Guidelines published November 2019. The industry provided detailed comments to PMPRB on the June 2020 revised draft guidelines and urged the regulator to hold off on implementation of the new Guidelines until technical working groups are established to address and work through the significant implantation challenges identified in the draft Guidelines.

The BIOTECanada submission highlights Canada’s vibrant biotechnology ecosystem, a national network with world leading research and development bringing solutions to improve healthcare. The submission notes changes to the regulatory framework should be made in a fair and balanced approach to avoid unintended consequences and ensure innovation and access of biologics medicines for Canadians.

Vaccines are a prime example of a class of patented products for which there is low risk, and therefore should be managed with limited regulatory burden including adoption of a “complaint” based approach similar to over the counter products. The Vaccine Industry Committee submission stated strict regulatory oversight is not necessary for vaccines given the competitive bid process that establishes a fair market price and represents the vast majority of doses dispensed in the Canadian market. The June 2020 revised draft Guidelines do not encourage this approach and raise serious complexities as it relates to access of vaccines.

Read the BIOTECanada PMPRB Submission to the Draft Guidelines here – August 2020

Read the VIC PMPRB Submission to the Draft Guidelines here – August 2020


Letters

Dear members of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts

March 23, 2022
On behalf of the member companies of BIOTECanada, I am writing to convey the biotechnology industry’s significant concerns regarding the motion currently being considered to grant access to unredacted contracts securing the supply of COVID-19 vaccines. Read more.