The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that Bank of Nova Scotia chief executive officer Scott Thomson says Canada could bolster its waning productivity by building links between businesses across North America -- a key component of the bank's turnaround strategy. The Globe's Stefanie Marotta writes that the Bank of Canada warned in late March that the country's soft labour productivity and low business investment levels pose an emergency that makes it more difficult to ease inflation, which could worsen living standards. During Scotiabank's annual shareholder meeting Tuesday, Mr. Thomson said the lender's plan to connect businesses to facilitate deals, trade and lending opportunities across Canada, the United States and Mexico is a way to help boost productivity. "Our economic potential is undeveloped at a time when the world needs us to be aligned, productive and competitive," Mr. Thomson said. "We can increase North American economic integration through concerted efforts at nearshoring, reducing regulatory hurdles and ensuring businesses can access capital efficiently and smoothly across geographies." The bank unveiled a strategic overhaul plan in December aimed at increasing the bank's stock price.