ATLANTIC GROWTH ADVISORY GROUP 

July 11, 2017

Context

On April 28, 2017, federal ministers and Atlantic premiers announced the composition of the Atlantic Growth Advisory Group. The group is composed of nine members – two from each Atlantic province plus the chair. The members bring a strong knowledge of Atlantic Canada, diverse professional experience and vision to their role.

The members 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

Purpose 

The Atlantic Growth Advisory Group supports the efforts of the Atlantic Growth Strategy Leadership Committee by providing strategic advice on pan-Atlantic collaborative approaches and actions to advance the Atlantic Growth Strategy.

Engagement 

Between April and June 2017, the Atlantic Growth Advisory Group engaged with Indigenous, business, academic, community and civil society leaders on ways to enhance regional growth. 

The advisory group conducted nine round tables in Halifax, St. John’s, Moncton and Charlottetown to engage regional stakeholders on ocean technology, immigration, tourism, infrastructure, ICT and innovation, clean growth and climate change, skilled workforce, food and bio-resources, and trade and investment. 

In addition to the in-person engagement sessions, the advisory group also launched an online engagement portal to hear from a broader range of Atlantic Canadians on ideas to grow the region’s economy. Over 16,700 people have visited the online engagement portal. The portal closed on July 7, 2017.

The goal of this exercise was to seek input from Atlantic Canadians on important issues for Atlantic Canada’s economy, such as:

• how to enhance regional growth, including how to attract and retain new Canadians;
• how to help Atlantic Canadians gain the skills they need to enter and stay in the labour force;
• how to address opportunities and challenges facing businesses at different stages of growth; and
• how to encourage industry to offer high-value tourism products and experiences.

Results 

Based on the above engagements, the advisory group will provide a report to the Atlantic Growth Strategy Leadership Committee in the fall of 2017 on actions that could have tangible impacts in the region. 

Learn more at Atlantic Growth Strategy.