Government of Canada and Atlantic Provinces Establish the Atlantic Growth Advisory Group

April 28, 2017 – Moncton, New Brunswick – Government of Canada and Atlantic Provinces

The Government of Canada and the governments of the four Atlantic Provinces are working together to build a vibrant economic future for Atlantic Canada.  Under the Atlantic Growth Strategy, the two levels of government have committed to collaborate on a pan-Atlantic, whole-of-government basis on targeted actions to stimulate the region’s economy, support both emerging and traditional industries, increase job opportunities for Atlantic Canadians and focus on persistent and emerging regional challenges.

To this end, federal Ministers and Atlantic Premiers today announced the composition of the Atlantic Growth Advisory Group.  The Advisory Group will engage with Indigenous, business, academic, community and civil society leaders between April and June of this year on ways to enhance regional growth.  The group will then provide advice to the federal and provincial governments in the fall on actions that can have tangible impacts in the region. 

The Advisory Group is comprised of nine members: two representatives from each Atlantic province and the Chair, Henry Demone, from Nova Scotia.  The members bring a strong knowledge of Atlantic Canada, diverse professional experience and vision to their role.  The members of the Advisory Council are: 

• Henry Demone (Chair), Chairman, High Liner Foods

• Zita Cobb, Co-founder and CEO, Shorefast Foundation

• Glenn Cooke, CEO, Cooke Aquaculture Inc.

• Esther Dockendorff, President and CEO, P.E.I. Mussel King Inc.

• Pernille Fischer Boulter, Founder, Kisserup International Trade Roots Canada Inc.

• Chief Brian Francis, Chief, Abegweit First Nation

• Anne Hébert, CEO, Bingham Law

• Dean MacDonald, Chair, Tuckamore Capital

• Robert Niven, Founder and CEO, CarbonCure Technologies

In addition to the in-person engagement sessions, the Advisory Group is also launching an online engagement portal to hear from a broader range of Atlantic Canadians on ideas to grow the region’s economy.  All Atlantic Canadians are invited to visit the engagement portal and share their comments and ideas: http://ow.ly/YJ7L30bgdjc.