News Release

FREDERICTON (CNB) – The first annual report on what has been accomplished during the last year under the Partnership Agreement on Regulation and the Economy (PARE) was released today by New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

The premiers of both provinces said the report demonstrates their respective government’s commitment to the PARE initiative and to keeping stakeholders informed.

“We are pleased with the work that has been done to date under the PARE agreement, and we are equally excited about the possibilities that exist for greater collaboration and harmonization in areas such as the energy and transportation sectors,” said Premier Shawn Graham.   

The report is posted on a website that has been created to support the distribution of information to stakeholders.

“This partnership agreement is an important step forward for the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia governments, providing new ways to work collaboratively on matters affecting trade and to improve the ability of business and individuals to work across provincial borders,” said Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter.

The report details specific examples of how the provinces have worked together to:  

●    make it easier and safer for trucks and cars to travel the main corridor through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by harmonizing permit systems and creating a common 511 communications system for weather and road conditions;
●    ease regulatory burden for operators in on-shore oil and gas;
●    harmonize building codes and technical safety training and regulation; and
●    make it easier for trade workers to move between the two provinces and identify efficiencies in both processes and criteria for designating compulsory certification trades.

PARE provides guiding principles and a philosophy for approaching regulatory harmonization and standardization between the two provinces and supports broader trade liberalization initiatives nationally.

LINK:

●    Partnership Agreement on Regualation and Economy: pare-eper.ca