May 22, 2012 - OTTAWA (Ontario) - The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie, reaffirmed today the Harper Government’s commitment to work closely with provincial governments, the business community, industry stakeholders and local leaders to build strong and sustainable businesses and communities in Atlantic Canada.
“Our government’s top priority is jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. Since taking office in 2006, our government has worked effectively and strategically to stimulate economic opportunities in communities, both rural and urban and improve the quality of life of Canadian families and workers,” said Minister Valcourt. “We will continue to work with all our partners to continuously explore ways of enhancing business development support to increase economic capacity in our communities.”
Through ACOA, the federal government supports the efforts of businesses and communities to innovate, attract investment, enhance growth, compete and exploit new opportunities for economic development and diversification. Recognizing the unique challenges facing all communities across Atlantic Canada, many of which are small, rural and remote, the Agency works with the provinces and other economic stakeholders to help communities and businesses create the conditions necessary for economic growth and development.
As a result, ACOA today notified Regional Development Authorities in Nova Scotia, Regional Economic Development Boards in Newfoundland and Labrador, Community Economic Development Agencies in New Brunswick and similar community-based economic development organizations in Prince Edward Island that ACOA will be ending its core operational funding under the current model. This termination of funding will take effect one year from now.
The decision to withdraw federal core funding from these organizations is about reducing duplication and focusing ACOA’s efforts on providing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Atlantic Canada with the tools and resources they need to create jobs and growth in our communities.
Atlantic Canada is well served by ACOA. The Agency has 36 points of contact, including a head office in Moncton and a regional office in each of the four provincial capitals. This extensive network is the foundation of ACOA's ongoing and proactive outreach with partners, communities and business. The four provincial governments also have extensive and decentralized service delivery networks and in many cases federal and provincial services for SMEs and communities are located together. Co-locating services helps minimize duplication between governments and simplifies access for citizens.
“We recognize that for businesses and communities to be competitive in an increasingly global and technology driven economy, we must make government services more efficient, less costly and more self evident. Resources are finite and ACOA must give priority to those programs that directly support entrepreneurs and businesses,” added Minister Valcourt. “Less time must be spent navigating through red tape and more time must be spent pursuing new opportunities.”
Over the coming year, ACOA will engage with provincial governments, municipalities and other economic stakeholders to explore alternate, more effective models for working together that promise greater cost savings, effectiveness and link more directly to federal priorities and the needs of SMEs and communities across Atlantic Canada.
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INFORMATION:
Andrea Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt
613-790-3637
Richard Gauthier
Media Relations
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-851-6773
