Halifax, Nova Scotia
April 22, 2013
Check against delivery
Thank you for inviting me. (Acknowledge other dignitaries)
I'm pleased to join you for this announcement.
The Atlantic region holds tremendous potential as a hub through which goods and people can travel to and from North America.
Turning that potential into a reality by promoting international trade and economic growth is at the heart of the Government of Canada's Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy.
The Strategy creates opportunities for local businesses and will attract trade and investment to the Atlantic region.
Under this strategy, I am proud to announce that the Government of Canada is contributing $330,000 to develop intelligent transportation systems in Nova Scotia.
This investment will accomplish two things.
First, it will fund what is called an Integrated Port Logistics System.
As part of this project, the Port of Halifax will work with its stakeholders to identify technologies that will facilitate the flow of information regarding shipments of goods at any point in the supply chain.
We want to develop technologies that can improve operations, reduce costs, and increase customer satisfaction.
Second, with an increasing number of large ships using the Port, it now needs to upgrade its existing system that monitors vessel clearance heights under each harbour bridge. The data generated from the system will be used as an aid to vessel load planning as well as in safely clearing vessels under the bridges.
This funding will help to develop, not only a more efficient port, but also a safer port.
Ladies and gentlemen, these projects will improve the efficiency of our transportation supply chain.
They will reduce transport costs and help attract more customers to move goods through Atlantic ports.
And, by helping to support safer and more reliable transportation, they will both improve traffic flow on transport systems in the region and reduce environmental impacts.
Since the Government introduced the Economic Action Plan to respond to the global recession, Canada has recovered both more than all of the output and all of the jobs lost during the recession.
That means that, since July 2009 employment has increased by over 898,000 and is now more than 465,000 above its pre-recession peak.
This is the strongest job growth among G-7 countries over the recovery.
A strong and efficient transportation sector is critical to Canada's future and to the future of Nova Scotia.
I am pleased to join you today to announce these investments that will support growth, create jobs and support prosperity in this region and across Canada.
Thank you.
