Ministerial Transition Book 2019
Section 1 – Who we are
ACOA at a glance
Objective: To support and promote opportunity for economic development of Atlantic Canada, with emphasis on small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).
Legislated mandate: To increase opportunity for economic development in Atlantic Canada and, more particularly, to enhance the growth of earned income and employment opportunities.
- Assisted approximately 1500 businesses since 2015
- Planned investments of $275.1M in 2019-20 (Gs & Cs)
- 28 service points across Atlantic Canada
Supports the government’s economic priorities:
- Targeted, integrated place-based approach
- Delivers programs to firms and communities
- Advocates for the interests of the region
- Supports federal-provincial collaboration
- Provides intelligence on the Atlantic economy to various federal institutions
Support is provided through:
- Flexible tools and programs
- Repayable contributions to businesses
- Non-repayable contributions to community and support organizations
- Convening and pathfinding
Context
ACOA is one of six Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) across Canada that work to fuel economic growth.
Key intervention areas of RDAs:
Since 1987, ACOA has supported and promoted economic development opportunities in Atlantic Canada:
- Investments of more than $1.3B since 2015, supporting 1,543 businesses and 509 communities.
ACOA continues to work with partners and stakeholders to create opportunities, address unique regional challenges, and build a foundation for a sustainable, prosperous future.
Organizational structure
Long description
The image depicts ACOA's organizational structure.
The top box, with a photograph of Francis P. McGuire, includes the text “ACOA President, Francis P. McGuire”. Lines connect the top box with three groups of boxes.
One line points to a single box with the text “Legal Services, Christine Calvé”.
One line points to three boxes with the note “Head Office in Moncton, New Brunswick, with a small Ottawa presence”; the following text appears in each of the three boxes: “VP Policy, Programs and Communications, Daryell Nowlan, Champion for Immigration, Access to Nat’l Programs”; “VP, Finance and Corporate Services, Stéphane Lagacé, Chief Financial Officer”; and “Senior Advisor (Energy), Andrew Noseworthy (St. John’s, NL), Champion for Clean growth”. A line from the box “VP Policy, Programs and Communications, Daryell Nowlan, Champion for Immigration, Access to Nat’l Programs” connects to a box with the following note: “Ottawa office: Advocates for Atlantic Canada’s interests; Is the principal day-to-day conduit between the Minister’s Office and ACOA”.
One line points to four boxes with the note “Regional and local delivery offices are throughout the region”; the following text appears in each of the four boxes: “VP NL, Bill Grandy (acting), Champion for Ocean, Program simplification”; “VP NB, Kent Estabrooks, Champion for Advanced manufacturing”; “VP NS, Chuck Maillet, Champion for Start-up ecosystem, Indigenous”; .and “VP PEI & Tourism, Patrick Dorsey, Champion for Food, Tourism”.
Long description
The image depicts ACOA’s current action areas.
At the centre is a circle with the words “Focus – Our Clients”.
The following 10 elements are positioned in a circle around the words “Focus – Our Clients”.
- Advanced Manufacturing / Kent Estabrooks, VP, New Brunswick / Businesses and educational institutions are changing how they think about manufacturing.
- Clean Growth / Andrew Noseworthy, Special Advisor, Energy and Strategic Initiatives / SMEs are developing and adopting clean growth practices to reduce their environmental footprint.
- Startup Ecosystem / Chuck Maillet, VP, Nova Scotia / Founders have the tools and support they need to start and scale their companies.
- National Programs / Daryell Nowlan, VP, Policy, Programs and Communications / Investments from national programs foster the growth of Atlantic Canadian businesses, organizations and communities.
- Program Simplification / TBD, VP, Newfoundland and Labrador / The client burden is minimal, as is the application processing time.
- Indigenous Economic Development / Chuck Maillet, VP, Nova Scotia / Indigenous SMEs and communities efficiently leverage assets for economic benefit and growth.
- Tourism / Pat Dorsey, VP, Prince Edward Island / Atlantic Canada is a year-round world-class destination for tourists.
- Immigration / Daryell Nowlan, VP, Policy, Programs and Communications / Businesses and communities embrace new Canadians in meeting our region's skills and labour demands.
- Food / Pat Dorsey, VP, Prince Edward Island / The Atlantic food sector’s value is maximized through competitive, export oriented, and appropriately supported SMEs.
- Ocean / TBD, VP, Newfoundland and Labrador / SMEs are participating in the global blue economy and are reaping the benefits of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster.
Early Actions – Moving Forward
ACOA can help the government deliver on its priorities to catalyze growth.
Businesses
- Entrepreneurship - Create the Canada Entrepreneur Account
Atlantic Canada’s startup ecosystem is the fastest-growing activation ecosystem in North America. ACOA is a key player in supporting the region’s start-up ecosystem and well positioned to provide additional support. ACOA can help BDC further support entrepreneurs. - Skills and Labour - Help workers get the skills they need
In 2018, 50% of businesses reported difficulty in hiring employees; 62% expected to face a shortage over the next five years. ACOA is working with departments such as ESDC and IRCC to address the skills and labour shortages issue. ACOA continues to work directly with businesses, colleges and universities to ensure that SMEs and workers can adapt to the evolving nature of work. - Key Sectors - Growing our areas of strengths
Key areas of strengths – ocean economy, energy, bio-and life-sciences and tourism – are poised to have a significant impact on growth. ACOA can help develop and deliver strategies to support scale up, growth and international engagement, and help companies look beyond borders to address technology and skills issues. Businesses are also facing a $3-10M financing gap to pursue high impact projects. - Aquaculture and fisheries - New Aquaculture act
In the coming years, over $1B in investments is expected in the region, and ACOA’s support and in-depth knowledge could be valuable in developing the new Aquaculture act. ACOA is focusing on an integrated approach to supporting development of this industry that harnesses growth potential while addressing environment and infrastructure considerations - Immigration - Move forward with making the Atlantic Immigration Pilot permanent
Immigration is a key priority. ACOA is a strong partner to IRCC and the provinces. Continue to support the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, advocate to improve existing immigration-related programs and initiatives, and leverage its relationship with private sector stakeholders to meet Atlantic Canada’s labour market needs.
Communities
- Tourism - Creation of a Tourism Community Infrastructure Fund
Tourism is a key priority, with non-resident spending in Atlantic Canada in 2017 estimated at $4.5B. ACOA is well positioned to deliver this new fund in the region. - Canada’s Coastal Communities - Local Economic Development Plans
ACOA will support DFO’s mandate and directly support the development of local economic development plans associated with small crafts harbours investments. ACOA’s focused approach will be tailored to support asset and strength-based planning, especially in rural communities. - Energy - Just Transition Act
Atlantic Canada faces particular risks related to climate change. Electrical generation is a major source of CO2 emissions. ACOA is working with NRCan and provincial governments on improving energy efficiency and greening of electrical grids. The Agency can help grow green businesses and support industrial energy efficiency through advanced manufacturing and clean tech adoption. - Efficiency - Flexible and responsive approaches
ACOA advocates and provides advice on issues that are impacting economic development such as transportation (HWY 185 and trade corridors), energy costs and supply, broadband in rural and coastal areas and regulatory barriers. - Infrastructure - Build infrastructure that supports strong minority-language communities
The Agency can deliver additional funds to support infrastructure development in minority-language communities. Connections with OLMCs will be leveraged to ensure efficient design and delivery of new or expanded initiatives.
Programs and Services
ACOA provides financial support to SMEs, communities and support organizations through provisionally repayable / repayable contributions as well as non repayable contributions.
Businesses
- Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI)
Supports all innovation-related projects to start or grow innovation businesses and to develop regional ecosystems through two streams:- Business Scale-up and Productivity
- Regional Innovation Ecosystems.
- Business Development Program (BDP)
Helps businesses start up, expand or modernize and improve their competitiveness. Focuses on regional priority sectors and non-innovation related projects. - Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF)
Encourages partnerships among private sector firms, universities, colleges and other research institutions to develop and commercialize products and services.
Communities
- Innovative Communities Fund (ICF)
Invests in strategic economic and sector development planning and infrastructure projects that stimulate the vitality of mainly rural communities in Atlantic Canada. - Community Futures Program (CFP)
Through the CFP, ACOA helps a network of 39 Community Business Development Corporations who provide access to capital and business services for SMEs and fills the gap in available financing and training for businesses in Atlantic Canadian rural areas.
Temporary Initiatives
ACOA also delivers short-term initiatives in Atlantic Canada on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Section 2 - Your Attention Please…
Early Decision – Engage Fed. Ministers and Atlantic Premiers on the Atlantic Growth Strategy
The Atlantic Growth Strategy is a collaborative, results-driven and forward-looking approach to building a vibrant economic future for Atlantic Canada in a rapidly changing global environment.
You may wish to check with your federal colleagues first and then engage with provincial premiers to discuss next steps and a potential meeting of federal and provincial elected officials.
Early Decision – Canada Coal Transition Initiative
ACOA will support the government’s efforts to diversify the economy of communities impacted by a transition away from coal-fired electricity.
You may wish to engage with your colleagues for the ministerial approval process of the Initiative.
Early Action – Program Spending and Project Approvals
ACOA approves over 1,200 projects every year through a diligent and efficient process that mitigates the risks for the Agency.
We will set up meetings in the coming weeks to discuss your preferred approach for project approval.
Engagement Opportunities
Key engagement opportunities in the Atlantic region
In the next few weeks, you could be interested to engage with key stakeholders or participate in regional events.
Potential meetings with key stakeholders
- Provincial governments (Premiers, Ministers)
- Business leaders
- Academic institutions
- Community Organizations
Regional Events
- November 27-28, 2019 - Annual Tourism Industry Association of NB Summit – Moncton, NB
- December 1-3, 2019 - Tourism Summit – Halifax, NS
- December 2-4, 2019 - Agricultural Excellence Conference – Fredericton, NB