Ministerial Briefing Note 2019

SUMMARY:

ACTION REQUIRED:

For information and follow-up.

BACKGROUND:

Congratulations on your appointment as Minister of Economic Development. I am grateful for the productive discussions we have already had about the Atlantic region. The Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency (ACOA) is one of the six regional development agencies. Its legislative mandate is to increase economic development opportunities in Atlantic Canada, especially in terms of the revenues generated and the job opportunities created.

Since 2015, the Agency has assisted about 1,500 businesses and 500 communities, and it anticipates making investments of $275.1 million in grants and contributions in 2019–2020, with a total budget of $352.7 million. It has 28 service points in Atlantic Canada.

The Agency has had the following impacts since 2015: it helped create or maintain almost 8,000 jobs in Atlantic Canada and, for each dollar invested by the ACOA, $1.44 was invested by other funding sources.

ACOA’s action areas are focused on advanced technologies, clean growth, the oceans, the food sector, immigration, Indigenous economic development, and tourism.

The Agency is ready to deliver the federal government’s priority projects in Atlantic Canada, such as the new community infrastructure program for tourism.

Among the first files to be addressed with you are the Atlantic Growth Strategy, the new coal transition fund and your role in approving the Agency’s projects.

The ACOA will support you in developing a plan for meetings and visits in the Atlantic region.

 

 

 

Francis P. McGuire

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