Team Southwest is up and running and is currently in the process of identifying sustainable and long-term solutions to the challenges facing southwestern Nova Scotia.
This high level team, made up of senior federal, provincial and community development officials, has begun to engage local communities by tapping into existing planning efforts in an attempt to move the process forward as quickly as possible.
“Our government has no preconceived notions on what might be proposed,” said the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. “The important thing is that we all keep an open mind as we look for solutions to the economic challenges of today.”
Minister Ashfield met with Team Southwest on April 17 during a fact finding mission to Yarmouth. He praised the team for being “smart and focused” and said the government and ACOA stood firmly behind its efforts. He said it was important to focus on the economy of the future with an emphasis on moving seasonal jobs to year-round employment and by investing in new technologies and human capital.
The Minister stressed that the government was not looking to establish a special fund, but instead strategically access existing government programs. “But most important, it will be the opportunities and ideas that will drive the funding, not the other way around,” he said.
With respect to the makeup of Team Southwest, Minister Ashfield said he was pleased that the Province of Nova Scotia has agreed to co-chair the team at future meetings. He stressed that coordination on this issue would be essential to its success with many of the team members already having a close connection to the communities in which they work.
Currently the members include:
Co-Chairs: Debbie Windsor, Vice-President, ACOA Nova Scotia; Ian Thompson, Deputy Minister, NS Economic & Rural Development (NSERD);
Members:
Mike Gushue, Managing Director, Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency; Brian Holland, CAO, Municipality of the District of Barrington & Team Shelburne; Neil Emenau, Executive Director, Lunenburg/Queens Regional Development Authority; Frank Anderson, CEO, South West Shore Development Authority; Mary Thompson, Principal, NS Community College; Chuck Maillet, Director, Community Development, ACOA Nova Scotia; Jennie Enman, Service Canada; John Somers, Executive Director, NS Tourism, Culture & Heritage; Robert LeFurgey, Manager LMDA Operations, Valley & South Shore, NS Labour & Workforce Development; Neal Conrad, Executive Director, Community Development, NSRD; Louise Watson, Acting Manager, Western Region, NSERD; Lisa Richard, Manager, Field Operations, ACOA Nova Scotia.
Team Southwest’s next meeting via conference call will take place on May 5 to finalize a work plan. The team will meet again in person on June 7 in Cornwallis.
For Broadcast Use:
Team Southwest is up and running and is currently in the process of identifying sustainable and long-term solutions to the challenges facing southwestern Nova Scotia. This high level team, made up of senior federal, provincial and community development officials, has begun to engage local communities by tapping into existing planning efforts in an attempt to move the process forward as quickly as possible.
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For Information:
David Harrigan
Director of Communications
ACOA Nova Scotia
902-426-4238
David.Harrigan@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
