No. H032/11
For release - March 23, 2011
OTTAWA — The Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of State for the Atlantic Gateway and the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy. The strategy, along with investments in specific projects in Atlantic Canada, will help the region unlock its potential.
“The Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy ensures our region has the infrastructure and regulations necessary to build the robust, competitive economy Atlantic Canada needs to prosper in the 21st century,” said Minister Ashfield. “Our government is proud to work with our provincial partners and members of the Gateway Council to move this strategy forward and make these prudent investments in Atlantic Canada.”
“The Government of Canada is proud to launch the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy,” said Minister Strahl. “Working together with the private sector, we’ll make Atlantic Canada a preferred choice for international commerce coming to or leaving the East Coast of North America.”
Following recent transportation funding announcements in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Canada is today announcing an additional $2.5 million specifically for marketing the Atlantic Gateway, a key priority for increasing international trade through the region. With the new investment announced today, more than $200 million from the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund has been committed to support the region’s strategic trade-related transportation system.
Canada’s Atlantic Gateway is a modern, competitive and integrated air, rail, marine and road transportation network. It provides a quick, reliable and secure transportation network between North American markets and markets in Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia via the Suez Canal.
Other features of the Gateway are:
- ice-free deep water ports that can accommodate the world’s largest ships;
- airports with air cargo facilities;
- intermodal transportation facilities;
- secure and efficient border crossings;
- class 1 rail infrastructure that extends into the heart of North America;
- 64,000 kilometres of highways; and
- three main truck corridors, one linking to key markets in Ontario and Quebec, and two to the Northeast United States.
The Atlantic Gateway connects to and seamlessly integrates with Canada’s other gateways, and with transportation systems that reach across North America.
For more information on the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy, and associated project funding, please visit www.atlanticgateway.gc.ca.
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ATLANTIC GATEWAY AND TRADE CORRIDOR STRATEGY
Canada’s Atlantic Gateway is a modern, competitive and integrated air, rail, marine and road freight transportation network. The Gateway provides a quick, reliable and secure transportation network between North American markets and those in Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia via the Suez Canal.
The Gateway has ice-free deep water ports that can accommodate the world’s largest ships; airports with air cargo facilities; intermodal transportation facilities; secure and efficient border crossings; class 1 rail infrastructure that extends into the heart of North America; 64,000 kilometres of highways; and three main truck corridors, one linking to key markets in Ontario and Quebec, and two to the Northeast United States. The Atlantic Gateway connects to and seamlessly integrates with Canada’s other gateways, and with transportation systems that reach across North America.
Government and the private sector have been working together to identify Atlantic Gateway priority areas for action. As mandated by the federal/provincial memorandum of understanding (MOU), the Atlantic Gateway Strategy has been developed to serve as the basis for ongoing collaborative and coordinated efforts by all partners to ensure that this vital trade and transportation system takes advantage of existing and emerging global commerce opportunities.
The strategy is a balance of immediate measures and longer-term directions. It includes measures that extend beyond infrastructure to address competitiveness issues such as policies, regulations and operational matters affecting the efficiency and productivity of the Atlantic Gateway. Private-sector cooperation has been essential in identifying and prioritizing actions related to policy and regulatory measures, innovation and technology, and skills development. It has also proved helpful in defining the value the Gateway offers.
Extensive consultation with the private sector in the Atlantic region identified marketing as a high priority to promote the Atlantic Gateway’s competitive advantages and niche market strengths (see the marketing backgrounder for more information).
Federal and provincial governments have also established a private-sector partnership with the Atlantic Gateway Advisory Council, a pan-regional chief executive officer-level group that is uniquely situated to provide insight and advice on issues having a direct impact on the competitiveness of the Gateway.
March 2011
ATLANTIC GATEWAY MARKETING
International trade promotion and marketing are critical components of the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy. Strategic marketing will be an essential tool in attracting international trade and investment in a competitive global marketplace.
The Government of Canada will provide an additional $2.5 million from the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund to promote the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor. This is in addition to a previously announced commitment of $2.5 million for marketing, which is expected to be matched by the private sector and/or provincial partners.
The Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor will be promoted as a quick, reliable and secure transportation network between North American markets and markets in the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal. Marketing activities will focus on key strategic activities such as promotional material, outgoing and incoming trade missions, media outreach, conference and trade event participation, and market research.
The Atlantic Gateway Federal-Provincial Officials Committee, along with private sector partners, will develop an Atlantic Gateway marketing framework to establish the overall approach to marketing the Gateway. The broad objectives of this framework will be to:
- build international and domestic awareness of the Atlantic Gateway;
- increase use of the Gateway as part of the global supply chain of international exporters and importers; and
- support Canada’s goal of increasing international commerce with new and existing markets.
The committee will also develop sector-specific marketing plans (e.g., for containers, bulk/breakbulk and air cargo) that will identify priorities, key markets and activities to strategically promote the Atlantic Gateway within the context of Canada’s other gateways.
The National Policy Framework for Strategic Gateways and Trade Corridors will guide the selection of participants in Gateway marketing activities. All initiatives will meet the established eligibility criteria and approval requirements of the Gateways and Border Crossings Fund.
Canada’s Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor is the shortest all-water route between North America’s East Coast and markets in Europe and Asia, via the Suez Canal. Double-stack rail service provides a direct link to Chicago in 71 hours, and a two-hour fly zone connects the Atlantic Gateway to Montreal, Toronto, Boston and New York.
Able to respond to unique needs, the Atlantic Gateway brings specialized distribution, transload and logistics facilities, and niche capabilities such as moving refrigerated cargo by ship, air, truck or rail; handling bulk and breakbulk shipping of dry, liquid and energy products; international trans-shipment operations; and world-class cruise facilities.
March 2011
