Government of Canada and Atlantic Provinces Take Action to Help Businesses Seize Opportunities

New initiatives to help Atlantic businesses innovate, grow and succeed  

January 27, 2017 – Wolfville, Nova Scotia – Government of Canada and Atlantic Provinces

The Government of Canada remains firmly committed to working with the Atlantic provinces to take bold action – under the Atlantic Growth Strategy – to create good-paying, middle class jobs, strengthen local communities, and grow the economy.

As part of the new Atlantic Immigration Pilot announced in July 2016, the provinces will now start designating regional employers to participate in the Pilot. In an innovative first, newcomers arriving in Canada under the new programs targeting international students and skilled workers, will have a job offer and an individualized settlement plan for them and their families.

The federal ministers and Atlantic premiers also announced the expansion of the Accelerated Growth Service to Atlantic Canada. This initiative – which provides financing support, advisory solutions, and expert counselling to participating companies – will help propel the region’s entrepreneurs and innovators through commercialization stages to success.

A new collaborative initiative between the Government of Canada and the provinces and territories that allows them to use federal standing offers to buy certain products was unveiled. This initiative helps modernize procurement by bringing together the purchasing power of federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as hospitals and educational institutions.

Federal ministers and Atlantic premiers have agreed in principle on a $20 million federal-provincial multi-year Atlantic trade and investment growth strategy with the aim to double the number of exporting enterprises from Atlantic Canada from 1,700 to 3,400 by 2025.

The federal ministers and Atlantic premiers also announced the appointment of Henry E. Demone, from Nova Scotia, as the Chair of the new Atlantic Growth Advisory Group. Now that Mr. Demone is in place, the members of the Advisory Group will be selected shortly. The Advisory Group will provide strategic advice to the federal and provincial governments on pan-Atlantic collaborative approaches and actions to advance the Atlantic Growth Strategy.

Recognizing the importance of youth in developing long-term policy solutions for the region, federal ministers and Atlantic premiers met with young leaders yesterday to discuss top-of-mind issues affecting Atlantic youth, such as education, the economy, climate change, and jobs.

Federal ministers and Atlantic premiers restated their commitment to pursue a collaborative approach for meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities and businesses in the region. This will ensure that Indigenous peoples are full and effective partners in growing the Atlantic economy and in the creation of opportunities and jobs.

Quotes

“The world is open for business. Atlantic Canadian businesses in every sector must be innovative, must attract, develop and retain skilled workers, and must diversify and expand to generate sustained economic growth. Together, we are paving the way to create an ecosystem where businesses can access strategic data, are globally connected and competitive, and attract the top talent they need to compete and forge global partnerships.”

– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

“Having a job and ongoing support is central to the long term success of immigrants. This is an innovative key role that employers will play as newcomers integrate into their new life in Atlantic Canada. Working together, we’ve created exciting and new programs as part of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot that I’m pleased to announce today and will provide ongoing economic growth of the region.”

– The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

“We are committed to improving partnerships with other levels of government. The Collaborative Procurement Initiative is an example of how our Government is modernizing federal procurement and ensuring the best value for Canadians. Extending the use of federal procurement tools to provinces, territories and municipalities is one of the ways we are generating meaningful economic and social benefits for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.”

– The Honourable Judy M. Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada

“Our youth will play a leading role building a more innovative, prosperous and inclusive economy for Atlantic Canadians. Meeting directly with bright young Nova Scotians at roundtables at Acadia University and Saint Mary's University this week, we discussed how we can work together to attract and retain talent, and help them find and create good jobs in Atlantic Canada now and for the future.”

– The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board

“We are seizing an historic opportunity to coordinate federal-provincial efforts to grow the Atlantic Canadian economy to the benefit of the middle class and those working hard to join it. Today, we have built on the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program by agreeing to a new $20 million trade and investment growth strategy. These are concrete measures that will bring real quality jobs quickly.”

– The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

“‎The agriculture, food and seafood sector is a powerful economic driver here in the region. ‎We’re talking about exports of five point five billion dollars and farm cash receipts of close to two billion dollars. As Minister,‎ my priority is to ensure the overall competitiveness of this important sector. ‎The initiatives we are announcing here under the Atlantic Growth Strategy are great news for our farmers, fishers and food processors."

– The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"We are working hard to make Nova Scotia a place where immigrants, businesses and all Nova Scotians can thrive. We're also pleased to be partnering with our Atlantic and federal colleagues on innovative ways we can grow the economy of our region by focusing on our strengths. Our entrepreneurs and businesses compete in global markets and having new programs to support them will benefit all of us."

– The Honourable Stephen McNeil, Premier of Nova Scotia

“Growing New Brunswick’s population is important for our economy. We need to keep New Brunswickers here, bring New Brunswickers back, and attract New Canadians to the province,”

– The Honourable Brian Gallant, Premier of New Brunswick

“Growing our economy is a priority for Prince Edward Island. We are committed to advancing our areas of competitive excellence, such as marine technology and food, and increasing export success for our businesses. Working with our federal and Atlantic partners will bring greater prosperity to our region.”

– The Honourable Wade MacLauchlan, Premier, Prince Edward Island

“What we are achieving through the Atlantic Growth Strategy is supportive of the goals of The Way Forward, our vision for sustainability and growth in Newfoundland and Labrador. Specifically, our commitments to economic diversification ‎and immigration are supported through this partnership with the Federal Government and our Atlantic provincial partners.”

– The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador

Related products

• Backgrounder – Atlantic Growth Strategy
• Backgrounder – Immigration Pilot project
• Backgrounder – Accelerated Growth Service
• Backgrounder – Collaborative Procurement Initiative
• Biography – Henry E. Demone

Associated links

• Atlantic Growth Strategy

Follow on social media.

Twitter: #AtlanticGrowth

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Contacts

Philip Proulx
Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and   Economic Development
343-291-2500

Camielle Edwards
Office of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-954-1064

Annie Trépanier
Office of the Honourable Judy M. Foote
819-997-5421

 

Jean-Luc Ferland
Press Secretary
Office of the President of the Treasury Board
613-369-3163 

Laura Gareau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474 

Guy Gallant
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059

 

Gary Andrea
Office of the Premier of Nova Scotia
902-456-6196

Julie Robichaud
Office of the Premier of New Brunswick
506-238-4256

 

Mary Moszynski
Office of the Premier of Prince Edward Island
902-368-4400

 

Michelle Cannizzaro
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960